Teen dies in Alberta foster care

A teenage Alberta boy has died in foster care, CBC News has learned.

Children and Youth Services Minister Yvonne Fritz confirmed Friday that the RCMP are investigating the death of the teenager from the Paul First Nation, west of Edmonton near Lake Wabamun.

"What I can tell you is I can confirm we did have a 13-year-old foster child pass on earlier today," Fritz told CBC News. 

"It was a young man who was in a very stable, loving foster home," Fritz added. "And also my thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of this young person because this is a very difficult time."

The boy's foster family is devastated by the loss, the minister said.

In a statement late Friday, the RCMP said the boy was 14, and that he was pronounced dead at a house in the rural Spruce Grove area after EMS personnel were called.

Fritz was not able to say how the boy died or why RCMP had been called in to investigate. The Mounties did not state the cause of death, mentioning only that a coroner was assisting with the investigation.

Premier Ed Stelmach was unaware of the death when asked about it Friday evening.

"I'm not aware of it, but I'll certainly charge the minister to investigate," Stelmach said. "It is, what happened, a major concern because the children are in the custody of the government."