Teen's death sparks call for social services information

The Alberta government wants to see changes on how provinces share information about children under the protection of social services.

The call comes after CBC News reported that a 15-year-old boy found dead in his northwest Calgary home earlier this month was once under provincial care in British Columbia — information that was never shared with social services in Alberta.

Alberta's Minister of Human Services Dave Hancock would like to see some privacy rules relaxed so agencies would be better informed.

"I think it's essential. You cannot work with one hand tied behind your back," he said. 

"We've seen tragedies where we don't know whether it could've been different, but it might have been different if people had been able to sit at the same table, share the information and understand how they could each do their part to achieve success for the child."

The teen, who had been home schooled, was found emaciated by emergency crews in a house in the 100 block of Citadel Drive N.W. 

Police say the death is suspicious, but have not released the cause of death and investigators are still waiting for further analysis from the medical examiner's office.

The teen also suffered from diabetes, according to sources close to the police investigation, although it's unknown what role — if any — that disease played in his death.

• For more on the story from CBC reporter Bryan Labby, watch the video above by clicking on the image.