KAWARTHA LAKES-The father of an autistic Lindsay boy who drowned in the Scugog River last summer is urging the Ontario government to fast-track a Vulnerable Persons Alert bill.
10-year-old Draven Graham wandered from his home in Lindsay on June 12, 2022. His body was pulled from the Scugog River the following day.
“My son passed away last year, he drowned in the river in Kawartha Lakes.” Justin Graham said in a press conference at Queen’s Park on Thursday. “There was no alert, there was nothing that was posted, except for social media and a lot of people showed up. Though the results were tragic there’s nothing for people with autism or any kind of vulnerabilities. This bill needs to be passed.”
Bill 74 was brought forward by Hamilton Mountain NDP MPP Monique Taylor who says she was impacted by the death of Draven Graham.
“This bill, if passed, would amend the Missing Persons Act 2018 to include a Vulnerable Persons Alert,” said Taylor. “It would expand the scope of the emergency alert system to cover a new demographic of missing people. This alert would be issued by the OPP in accordance with the officers’ request on a targeted, regional basis to bring our vulnerable loved ones home safely. Time is critical when a loved one goes missing and this bill would serve as an additional tool and solution for police forces.”
Taylor says over 98,000 people have signed an online petition calling for a Vulnerable Persons Alert.
The bill has been sent to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy by the Ontario government, which is where some bills are sent to die. Taylor and Graham are concerned about that possibility. At Queens Park on Thursday Taylor asked the government to explain their intentions for the bill.
“The bill that was presented to the house was significantly flawed and had it gone to second reading today we would not have been able to make the changes the member herself suggested needed to be made in order to make the bill effective,” said Paul A Calandra, Government House Leader. “That is we we took the unusual and aggressive step, given there is broad-based support for this, to send it directly to committee to make the changes the member herself acknowledges need to be made and can be supported.” Â
When pressed Calandra said the government intends to bring the bill back to house for debate and possible approval.
“It is our intention do to everything possible to take a flawed bill and make it better so it works for the parents of those who are here today and all those watching and want us to make an appropriate change. You have my assurances that when the bill is fixed at committee we will bring it back to the house because as I said there is a broad level of support for the bill.”Â
Local parents say they don’t have time for all of the politics.
“Time is not on our side. If my autistic 7-year-old goes missing I don’t have time,” said Ashley Anne Ferreira. “Personally I have written emails for 40 weeks asking the government for this alert. Why didn’t they jump on it at the time?”
She is also disappointed with the municipality. She says 33 other municipalities have passed a motion supporting the Vulnerable Persons Alert but to date, the City of Kawartha Lakes has refused. We contacted the City for comment but have not yet had a response.
“I feel my requests have fallen on deaf ears. I will give credit to Kawartha Lakes police, OPP and the city for their work on the rescue app that will still be needed to fill a gap even with the VP alert.”
Dravens grandmother Julie compared him to the child the Amber Alert is named for.vIt was created in reference to Amber Rene Hagerman, a girl who was abducted and later found murdered in 1996.
“Not unlike Amber, Draven is everyone’s vulnerable child. The Amber Alert is already in place. It works. No need to change the name, no need for new funding or for apps that only reach those who subscribe. Why not change the parameters of the Amber Alert and include those who have autism, dementia, or other vulnerable risks? We are here today to stand with those who have, will have or become that vulnerable person in the village. We are asking you to change the Amber Alert to include all vulnerable persons.”
MPP Taylor has started a new petition which can be signed here:Â https://www.moniquetaylormpp.ca/vulnerable_persons_alert?fbclid=IwAR00hyID5X-LZTNgnGgAF2PyGq5FIn_ik3ueyAigeujq2NA0q7ErC2fpKXE&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
