July 27, 2020, Sudbury (ONT) CBC: Autism spending not giving children the 'services they need', NDP health critic says https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/ndp-autism-report-reaction-1.5664369 Ontario's NDP health critic says the government's spending claims for autism programs last year were misleading. Last week, Ontario's Financial Accountability Officer Peter Weltman released his report on autism services. It stated the wait list grew to 27,600 children last year. The report also highlighted spending on autism therapy programs. The government reported $608 million spent on autism services last year. But that figure includes an expense of $174 million dollars for the families of more than 25,000 children who did not receive payments in that fiscal year. The NDP has sent a letter to the province's auditor general, asking for a probe into the discrepancy. Last week, Bonnie Lysyk confirmed the spending is being reviewed as part of the normal auditing process. • Ontario autism services waitlist grew to 27,600 children in 2019-2020: FAO • Feds announce $3M in support for autism programs, criticize Ford government • Postponement of autism program 'devastating' news says Sudbury mom Nickel Belt NDP MPP and health critic France Gélinas says she wasn't surprised to read the financial accountability officer's report. She admits it was hard to read. "When you see that kids are on a wait list that hasn't moved, it just continues to grow," she said. "None of them are getting the ... therapy that they need."… "Some of those families have received zero help, not one penny has gone to their family ... and then they see a report where money that was supposed to be there for their children never got spent. They were not happy."
(Canada) Ontario failing autistic children; 27,600 still on waiting list
Updated: Jul 30, 2020
Comments