Mr. Speaker, it has been nearly two years since the tragic disappearance of Earl Moberg, a beloved husband, father and grandfather from my community who suffered from dementia. Despite exhaustive search efforts, he has not been found and is presumed deceased.
By 2030, nearly one million Canadians will be living with Alzheimer's, with almost 60% going missing at some point. If not found within 12 hours, half will be seriously injured or will lose their lives, highlighting the urgent need for rapid alerts. Mr. Moberg may have been seen after he went missing, but the person who saw him was not aware he was missing and did not alert the authorities. That is why Canada urgently needs a national silver alert system, like the amber alert system for children, to quickly notify the public when a senior with cognitive impairments goes missing using geo-targeted technology.
Today, I am honoured to table petition e-6491, with over 7,300 signatures, launched by the Moberg family. It calls on the federal government to work with provinces and police to create a national silver alert system.
The Mobergs have shown tremendous courage. We must act now to protect our most vulnerable and prevent future tragedies.