Canadian Runaway Laws

I am 12 turning 13 I plan to run away next year with two of my friends, I don’t really need to run away but I want to make sure my friend is safe and I’ll helo take care of her. She is the same age as me she is running away from her family because they will hurt her if they figure out that she doesn’t believe in their religion, they already threaten her for not saying some things.If she runs away and they find her they will kill her. I don’t want to happen. If I run away it will just be like a break for a while, although we will be living on the streets. We do have money and food but not shelter. It isn’t so bad maybe when it gets cold in the winter it will be.

[ccsmod9]

Hi there,
Thank you for writing to us here at National Runaway Safeline (NRS). We understand it takes great courage to reach out, and we appreciate you sharing a little bit about what’s going on. It seems there is a lot that you are faced with right now and you’re feeling like leaving is one of your only options. It seems you want to know some information on runaway laws.
While we are not experts on the law, 18 is generally the age that an individual may leave home without parent permission. If you are under 18 and leave home, your parent/guardian may file you as a runaway and you may be returned home. Also, those you stay with may run the risk of being charged with harboring a runaway. For more specifics on the law, the local non-emergency police or legal aid may better answer legal questions.
We are here as support to help through this challenging time. We can best help by phone or chat as NRS is unable to respond more than twice by email to assist you. If you would like to talk more in detail please call or chat soon.
Our contact information is 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929); www.1800runaway.org (click on the chat button).
If you are at risk of any danger or feeling unsafe, we encourage you to reach out to 911 or seek emergency assistance immediately.
Be safe,
NRS

I'm 13 years old and I have thought about running away for 2 years now. It's not because of my family but because I'm always arguing with my parents and lying to them a lot. I don't have any friends at school and I don't fit in with my family or at school. I am always alone and spending more time in my room than with my family. Would it be legal to run away now?

[ccsmod7]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out for your friend. It is clear that you really care about her and really want to help. She is lucky to have someone like you in her life, especially when she is lacking support at home.

The laws are very different between the United States and Canada. Unfortunately, due to the fact that our hotline is based in the United States, we cannot offer any insight into Canadian legal situations. A resource in Canada that you might try is Kid's Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 https://kidshelpphone.ca/what-is-kids-help-phone. Hopefully they can help!

Best of luck!

NRS

My friend is 15 her mother hit her and is overall not a good mother and her dad lost a custody battle when she was 11! She lived with her dad after summer for around 2 weeks then lived with me for 6 weeks and she just fits in with the family she told us she’s never felt like home anywhere else and she just loves me and I love her For a good 2 months before she came back to Armstrong she was living in a tent and she just thinks differently she said some depressing things to her Counsellor that came out wrong and her dad took her to the hospital and she was in there for 9 days no doctors really saw her and she was lonely not to mention the week of Christmas and her dad won’t except that he wants to have this picture perfect life but his daughter isn’t perfect so his girlfriend said she can’t move back with them and my mom offered her so she was done with the hospital and had a breakdown the 8th night and I calmed her down she was fine she seemed ok then the 9th day around 1 she escaped the hospital and we drive around loooking for her and since we’re so close I knew exactly where she was going and the cops can’t do anything about it now so she’s at her friends and her, my mom and I just want her home we miss her and she misses us and don’t understand the hospital doesn’t help her and we’re the only ones that took care of her and place she lifeless safe social services EVEN SAID IT WAS A GOOD IDEA but no apparently it up to her DAD which is stupid cause he doesn’t even have custody well yea IF SHE HAS A STABLE HOME LIKE ME WHERE WE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HER she should be aloud to stay here SHAKE MY HEAD YOU NEED TO GROW UP AND LEARN THAT SOMETIMES ADULTS MAKE THE WRONG DECISION OR HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSONALITY WHEN YR NOT AROUND!!!!!!
#LET ISISBEFREE #GOVERMENTDOESNTHELPKIDS

[ccsmod16]

Hi,

The laws are very different between the United States and Canada. Unfortunately, due to the fact that our hotline is based in the United States, we cannot offer any insight into Canadian legal situations. A resource in Canada that you might try is Kid's Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 https://kidshelpphone.ca/what-is-kids-help-phone. Hopefully they can help!

Best of luck!
NRS

Hi, I’m 18 years old and I moved out of my house 6 months ago when I turned 18. I have some mental health issues that I honestly haven’t been taking care of as much as I should. I’m living with my boyfriend and we’ve had a rough couple months which they know about.

I have a couple questions as they are now trying to forceably move me home. Can they legally call they cops and have them remove me and my belongings from where I’m staying? Can they go to a court and have them get me legally removed based on my mental health being bad? I am also from Manitoba. Thanks so much.

[ccsmod10]

Hi
there,

Thanks for reaching out to us today. It sounds like you've been dealing with a lot at home and you're looking for some answers. We're glad you're planning for your safety and considering pressing issues before you leave home. This is likely to keep you safer. We would love to help more, but we don't have any information about laws or resources for runaway youth in Canada. You can try Kid's Help Phone in Canada, 1-800-668-6868 https://kidshelpphone.ca/what-is-kids-help-phone. Hopefully they can help!

Best,
NRS

Hello I was wondering if in Canada you can run away if your 16 and have autism?

[ccsmod2]

Hello There,
Thank you so much for reaching out to The National Runaway Safeline, we are here to help and here to listen. It sounds like you are going through a difficult situation. It sounds like you really care about your family and your pets. We are not legal experts but in most states the legal age to leave home without permission is 18 years old. Because you are 11 years old your parents have the right to file a runaway report. Running away is not a criminal offense, it is a status offense. What that means is that if found you would most likely just be returned home to your parents. Is there a specific reason you want to leave home? If there is abuse going on either physical, or emotional we could look at filing a report, if that is something you would be interested in. Also some things you may want to think about before running away to Canada is, how would you get there?, how would you survive, what would you do about money. Your safety is our top concern, so if you plan on leaving home it is a good idea to have a safe plan. If you would like to talk more with us feel free to give us a call or chat with us, we are available 24/7. We wish you the best of luck in your situation.
NRS

I'm 11 and really want to leave home, but I'm considering whether or not it's a good idea. I have 3 siblings, 3 dogs, and 5 cats... I will miss them dearly if I end up running away. I've been planning on leaving and heading for Canada... It scares me to think what my parents will say, how sad they may get, and/or if someone searching for me finds me before even leaving the state I'm in. I really need help...

[ccsmod10]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are in a difficult situation, and we understand it takes courage to reach out for help. The National Runaway Safeline is located in the United States of America (USA). Our knowledge of helpful community based resources and our understanding of youth in crisis related laws is limited to the USA. If you are located in a country outside of the USA, you can use this link to find a youth helpline in or around your country: http://www.childhelplineinternationa...where-we-work/

We hope that by reaching out to a local resource, you are able to get the support you need from an organization that understands the laws and circumstances that affect youth in your country.


Best, NRS

Ya I'm 13 and my family is poor Im born with anexoria nervosa and I didn't like to eat when I was young and then I syarsta to eat but now I don't I tend to go hungry for days and my mom is Satan she has anger issues my dad I don't even know if he is my dad because I have nothing in common with him and I am very distant with my family, I play games because it's honestly the only thing I'm good at but since we're poor am limited to playing due to wifi is 25mbps that's kinda bad but, I get into fights a lot with my parents and they always threatened me that they will rip my teeth out, punch me, hit me and I get scared and I'm thinking about running away after my cat died because I'm always in fights and I even thought of suicide I just want help, I want to leave my dad and mom and live somewhere we're I can feel safe and be loved and not threatened and somewhere we're I can follow my dream of becoming a pro player in go4

[ccsmod0]

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to us at the National Runaway Safeline. It sounds like you are in a difficult situation, and we understand it takes courage to reach out for help. The National Runaway Safeline is located in the United States of America (USA). Our knowledge of helpful community based resources and our understanding of youth in crisis related laws is limited to the USA. If you are located in a country outside of the USA, you can use this link to find a youth helpline in or around your country: http://www.childhelplineinternationa...where-we-work/

We hope that by reaching out to a local resource, you are able to get the support you need from an organization that understands the laws and circumstances that affect youth in your country.


Best, NRS

I have a big family, A 18 year old older brother, a 12 year old sister and 11 year old step sister. I'm 15, I love both my parents but unfortunately they are divorced and after a long of time of being a single mother, my mom got into dating a new boyfriend, (which I love him as well) but sometimes huge fights begin between my mom and her boyfriend. Most of those fights end with both hurt, but mostly the hurt is on my mother. Lately she said that she feels like no one is treating her well and that it has always been about us and not her. I feel like most of the blame is put on me and that I should just leave to make it better. But deep down inside me, I know everyone in my family cares about me, (expect for my cousins), and they try not to place the blame on anyone in the family if it is a huge problem. I sort of have a plan: grab as much bus tickets, and money as possible, then I run away and head to the bus stop.

At school I'm alone almost all the time and rarely have friends I can talk too, and I don't talk to my family about my problems either. I have always kept my problems to myself, but that doesn't mean I'm alone at home most of the time. Half the time I'm with family laughing and talking. But at the same time I look into my brothers, sister and mothers eyes and I can see the same thing, they are all looking for happiness not knowing that it will never come to them because we as family can never be satisfied and the same goes for me.

after writing this I don't know if I should run away. I thought about running away at age 12-13, I have thought about killing myself, from age 12-15 and every time I say it is to help my mom and the family. But I have never thought of a actual good reason, like how is this helping my family, a kid runs away from his family looks bad on them, but all I do is cause trouble. Before I got here I was just searching around for what others think about running away, then I found this bulletin