Help with teenage legal rights (Canada)

I am 17 years old, living in canada with my parents. Apparenty, our rights our different from the states and at the age of 16, we can leave home without parental consent. Im not sure if this information is accurate or not. Anyone living in canada, or understanding the rights of a young woman such as myself, could you please answer this question for me?

I am dating an 18 year old, who lives in another province than I do. I would like to go visit him for a few days. Therefore, he is willing to pick me up and bring me back with him for some time and drive me back home. I brought this up to my parents and they said no. I asked them what they would do if I went anyway, and they said that I wouldn’t be allowed back in their house. I totally understand that I would not be allowed back in the house and that is fine. But is there anything else they could do? Legally, could they call the police and retreive me? I do not want to get my boyfriend, or my boyfriends mother in trouble with the cops when it would clearly be me doing the deed. I feel at 17, I should be able to make the choice for myself to go away for a few days, returning home. What are your either legal or knowledgable opions?

Thanks.

Answer #1

You can legally leave home at 16 - the police won’t do anything even if your parents try.

I do recommend you at least notify your parents before you plan to leave instead of just leaving without a word, because then you can be listed as a missing person and the police WILL look for you.

I’ve been on my own since I was 16 (15, actually, but that’s another story) as well as many of my friends with no problems.

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