Mother Calls for Privacy Law Reform in Search for Missing B.C. Son

For more than a decade, Christine Moore has advocated for her son, Christopher Newton, as he battled mental illness and addiction. But after he vanished in December 2023, she says privacy laws have made it nearly impossible to access information that could help find him.

Newton, 33, was last seen at a Walmart in Nelson, B.C., where he had been living on the streets. Though he frequently used local support services and outreach programs, privacy laws prevent his mother from obtaining any records or confirmation of his recent whereabouts.

A Mother's Search Blocked by Privacy Laws

Moore, who lives in Alberta, says she is used to going long stretches without hearing from her son. But when Newton failed to call her at Christmas and on his birthday in January, she knew something was wrong.

“When he didn’t call, I just knew,” she said.

Though there were initial reports of sightings last summer, Nelson police later confirmed that information was incorrect. Without access to his medical and support service records, Moore says she is left in the dark about where he might have been before he disappeared.

“In a missing person’s case like Christopher’s, there needs to be something that allows all these privacy barriers to collapse so that we can get the information we need,” she said.

Under B.C.’s privacy laws, an individual must provide verbal or written consent for family members to access personal information, including medical records, support services, and treatment history. The only exception is in emergency situations, such as when an individual poses a risk to themselves or others.

The B.C. Ministry of Health maintains that these laws protect autonomy and confidentiality. However, Moore argues that the strict guidelines exclude families from playing an active role in their loved ones’ care.

“I believe if I had been allowed to be part of his care, he wouldn’t be missing today,” she said.

Balancing Privacy and Family Access

Legal experts say B.C.’s privacy laws are designed to protect personal autonomy, even if it means limiting access for concerned family members.

Aislin Jackson, a policy lawyer with the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, says that while the system does allow for some discretion, the default position is to prioritize an individual’s right to control their personal information.

"The fundamental idea is that people should have control over their own information,” Jackson said.

However, Moore says families often don’t know what legal options exist—such as representation agreements, which allow a trusted person to make medical and financial decisions on someone’s behalf.

“I didn’t even know that was an option until after Christopher went missing,” she said.

A System Failing the Most Vulnerable

Moore describes her son’s struggles as part of a “vicious cycle” involving mental illness, homelessness, and incarceration.

Diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early 20s, Newton turned to drugs to self-medicate when access to medical treatment was inconsistent, his mother says.

While CBC News was unable to confirm his diagnosis due to privacy laws, Moore says Newton was formally diagnosed by a court-appointed psychiatrist after multiple run-ins with the legal system.

“He’s been in and out of jail for things like joyriding,” she explained, referring to unauthorized vehicle use.

She believes that the current legal and medical frameworks fail people like her son.

“Mental illness isn’t a crime. Addiction isn’t a moral failing. Poverty isn’t a choice,” she said.

A Call for a ‘Housing-First’ Approach

Moore is advocating for a housing-first model that provides stability and wraparound support for individuals struggling with mental illness and addiction.

“The solution isn’t just displacing people. We need individualized services that meet people where they are.”

An Ongoing Missing Persons Case

Nelson police officially reported Newton missing on Jan. 4, 2025, after Moore filed a missing person’s report. The investigation remains active, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.

Newton is described as:

• 5'10” tall, weighing 159 pounds

• Brown hair and brown eyes

• A skateboard tattoo on his left shoulder

Anyone with information is asked to contact Nelson Police Department.