Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at this moment, there is a very serious crisis involving a missing 14-year-old boy, Bosco Homes in Alberta and our Department of Health and Social Services. The crisis also extends to the boy's family here in Yellowknife and sadly, to the almost total lack of compassion and information our government is able to give to the boy's mother.

Mr. Speaker, Bobby's case, and of course that is not his real name, goes back to last fall when he was apprehended and taken over as a ward of this government under the Child Welfare Act. He was referred to Bosco Homes for assessment and has been kept there since for treatment.

Two days ago, Bobby was reported missing from the Bosco Treatment Ranch outside of Edmonton. His mother got a phone call from Bosco simply telling her Bobby was missing and that the investigation was in the hands of the RCMP.

Since then, Mr. Speaker, she has received only one other phone call -- this morning, in fact -- from our child welfare office, asking if she had any other information. I have contacted the Minister's office, Mr. Speaker, and insisted that somebody directly involved with the search contact Bobby's mother and at least tell her what they know and what they are doing about it. However, as of this moment, after more than two days, even that simple gesture has not been acted on.

Mr. Speaker, most of us in this Assembly are parents. I would ask what would be going through our minds now if we knew that our teenager was missing a thousand miles away and nobody was telling us what was going on. I have talked to the boy's mother several times today and yesterday. She is distraught. She is desperate. She feels totally abandoned and helpless.

Mr. Speaker, this boy is a ward of this government. He is in our care. Why have we not involved the parent and the family in this distressing event? What are we doing to make sure that every available resource is put to work to find him? Beyond this, Mr. Speaker, just what is the level of care and treatment Bobby is involved with in the Bosco Ranch? Even this information has not been made available to the parent. Why not?

Mr. Speaker, this disappearance follows other allegations over the past month of physical abuse and mistreatment while in the care of the Bosco Home. These allegations are already under investigation by the Department of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.