“Behind each number on that waitlist is a family that is exhausted,” NDP calls out growing wait list for the Ontario Autism Program

TORONTO – Shadow Minister for Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity with responsibility for the Ontario Autism Programme Alexa Gilmour (Parkdale—High Park) issued the following statement after a Freedom of Information request revealed that over 61,000 children are on the Ontario Autism Programme wait list for core funding.

“Behind each number on that waitlist is a family that is exhausted. A child that could have had their lives transformed with proper support. The Ford Government has abandoned thousands of children and turned its back on them,” MPP Gilmour said.

“Minister Parsa knows how many children are waiting -- he is aware of the staggering needs that are not being met. Despite this, the Government has not done anything to increase the number of children receiving funding and the waitlist has ballooned by three times since Premier Ford came into power.

This is unacceptable. The Ford Government must stop turning a blind eye to children with autism and give them the supports they desperately need to learn essential life skills. To build a stronger Ontario, we must make sure our most vulnerable children are not left behind. These children are our future and our future is what is at stake here.”