'High rate' of missing persons reports prompts creation of special hub in Manitoba
Manitoba is planning to create an integrated missing persons response unit, sharing information between police agencies, Child and Family Services (CFS), and Indigenous advocates when someone goes missing.
There were more than 9,300 missing person reports in Winnipeg alone last year, a number that doesn't include the roughly 3,500 missing persons investigations launched by the RCMP.
"Manitoba has seen, sadly, consistently high rates of missing persons over the past number of years, especially among young girls," said Manitoba's Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen during the provincial announcement on Monday.
Goertzen said to improve responses when a person goes missing, the province is putting $2.1 million from the 2023 budget to create a Manitoba Integrated Missing Persons Response unit.
"This investment will require the coordination of police agencies, CFS, support services and community services providers to assist in identifying and managing chronic missing persons in a responsive coordinated and data-based way," he said.
The province said with this new response, the Winnipeg Police Service's specialized missing persons coordinators will be the centralized intake for the province.
Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth called it a 'win-win.'
"By having that coordinated response, it allows us to do a quick risk assessment on incoming files, it allows us to share information quickly between our partners," he said.
"It allows us to quickly assess that and assign resources so that we can start timely investigations and we can also look for an opportunity to more effectively liaison with the families."
Assistant Commissioner Rob Hill, a commanding officer with the Manitoba RCMP, said on average Mounties get 10 missing person reports per day.
"Many of these reports involve youth who live in smaller cities or remote communities," he said, adding 53 per cent of all missing persons in 2022 originated in northern detachments.
"It is not uncommon for these missing youths to be drawn or lured to larger city centres like Winnipeg or Brandon. Once in these larger centres they can become vulnerable to exploitation, or victimized by people who have no care for their well-being."
He said this new response unit will allow for a better information exchange which will not just be limited to police agencies, but will include CFS and Indigenous advocacy groups.
Heidi Spence, director of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak MMIWG liaison unit, said it will have an impact on families of missing people as well.
"It's going to help with the resources and better communication to be able to give answers to the families and the loved ones of our women, girls and 2SLGBTQ people that are missing in the province," she said.
Goertzen said more consultation is required to determine the make-up of the team. The province did not say when the unit will begin running.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW What Canada is doing about the toxic forever chemicals in drinking water
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
Arrest made, manslaughter charge pending in 2022 death of Calgary toddler
Calgary police have arrested a man and a charge is pending in connection with the death of a toddler in 2022.
Prince William returns to public duties after wife Kate's cancer revelation
Prince William will return to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson Airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Frustrated farmers are rebelling against EU rules. The far right is stoking the flames
Mainstream political parties failed to act on European farmers' complaints for decades, one farmer says. Now the radical right is stepping in.
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.