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More Tools Available for Police to Find Missing Seniors

August 8, 2019

RICHMOND HILL - With more than 240,000 Ontario seniors estimated to be living with some form of dementia today, being able to locate seniors in the first 24 hours after they go missing is crucial to saving lives.

Ontario is putting the safety of seniors first by providing police officers with more tools they need to respond quickly and effectively to missing persons investigations.

"Every minute counts when a senior goes missing to help keep them safe. This is another example of how our government is putting seniors and their families first by providing essential frontline services new tools to help find our missing loved ones faster," said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. "We are protecting what matters most to help seniors live independently in their communities, while also helping to ensure they are safe."

The Missing Persons Act, proclaimed by the government on July 1, 2019, provides police with three additional tools to use when there is no evidence a crime has been committed. These tools will allow police to:

The Act also includes guidelines on what information police may disclose about a missing person before and after they have been located.

Previously, when a person went missing without evidence of criminal activity, police were limited in the ways they could investigate. With this legislation, police can now respond to missing persons investigations quicker, while balancing concerns for an individual's privacy.

"Police and family members tell us that the first hours after someone goes missing are the most critical," said Sylvia Jones, Solicitor General. "That's why we're providing our frontline heroes with more tools to quickly find our loved ones."


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Ministry of the Solicitor General Supporting seniors and their families: 2019 Ontario Budget


Pooja Parekh 
Minister's Office 

Leah Wong 
Communications Branch
Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility