So 281 deals with children under 14 and is more clear that simply harbouring is enough of a crime and could be done passively.
280 is for children under 16 and requires active action to take or causes to be taken the child out of the possession of a guardian. So if a 14 or 15 year old came to your house, even knowingly as a runaway, you could let him stay, but if you refused the parents access to your house when they came (and for the duration that the child was there) that
might be enough to invoke the active action.
And if your son had somehow persuaded him, he would fall under 281.
285 is the obvious catch all to prevent good people like Textcritic from facing criminal charges for trying to help a child:
Quote:
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No one shall be found guilty of an offence under sections 280 to 283 if the court is satisfied that the taking, enticing away, concealing, detaining, receiving or harbouring of any young person was necessary to protect the young person from danger of imminent harm or if the person charged with the offence was escaping from danger of imminent harm.
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But then you get back to Alberta's Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act which requires a person to report when a child is in danger (or reasonably expected to be).
So yeah, I don't see any other option but to call 911 (or some other police hotline) in Textcritic's situation.