Missing Persons Act making its way through N.W.T. legislature

CBC
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The N.W.T.'s proposed Missing Persons Act would allow RCMP to access additional records to assist in a missing person investigation. Justice Minister R.J. Simpson read the bill for the 2nd time in the legislature Monday. (Julie Plourde/Radio-Canada - image credit)
The N.W.T.'s proposed Missing Persons Act would allow RCMP to access additional records to assist in a missing person investigation. Justice Minister R.J. Simpson read the bill for the 2nd time in the legislature Monday. (Julie Plourde/Radio-Canada - image credit)

The Northwest Territories may soon pass legislation to help RCMP find missing persons by accessing additional documents and records.

The territory committed to exploring a Missing Persons Act in 2020 and it was brought back into the spotlight after the disappearance of Frank Gruben last spring.

Gruben, a 30-year old Gwich'in Inuvialuit man, was last seen in Fort Smith, N.W.T., on May 6, 2023.

Justice Minister R.J. Simpson read the bill for the proposed Missing Persons Act for the second time Monday.

The draft legislation says that the act would allow RCMP, with court approval, to access cell phone records that may indicate the device's location, travel and accommodation records, as well as personal health and financial records.

The bill also says that when a judge is determining whether to grant RCMP access to the missing individual's records, they must consider any information suggesting the person may not want to be found. That includes information suggesting the missing person is attempting to leave a violent or abusive situation.

The bill has now been referred to a committee of regular MLAs. After discussing with the public and with experts, the committee will write a report on the bill with any changes they'd like to see and it will come back to the Legislative Assembly for discussion in the spring sitting.