Ministry denies autism wait-list ‘freeze’
Provincial PCs challenged on claim of spending more on autism than Liberals
The Ford government says it did not freeze a wait list for children’s autism services, although a statement Monday from the social services ministry stated only those who’d received prior help were eligible for more.
And, facing more pressure over their controversial overhaul of the autism program, questions were raised about PC claims of spending more than the previous Liberal government — given the Liberals had budgeted $321 million for 201819, the same amount pledged under the reforms.
“At no point did Minister (Lisa) MacLeod instruct the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to freeze the wait list,” said the ministry statement. “These families were prioritized for services and supports following changes made (in January 2018), which placed significant funding pressures on the program budget that could not be served within the allocated budget.
“Minister MacLeod secured the necessary investment upon taking office.”
Memos, however, have surfaced that indicate the ministry and autism service providers closed the wait lists, leaving behavioural therapists to run par- ent workshops and perform other duties instead of treating children.
In the legislature Monday, MacLeod called such reports of a freeze “erroneous” and “false.” That prompted New Democrat MPP Monique Taylor to say “the truth is that this government and this minister have lied to the families of this province.” Taylor was ejected from the house after refusing to withdraw the comment.
The PC plan, which starts April1, aims to clear the 23,000child wait list by spreading resources among all families — but it means some now receiving higher levels of service will see cutbacks.
Families will be eligible for up to $20,000 a year for each child under 6, to a lifetime maximum of $140,000. Children older than that can access up to $5,000 a year up to age 18, to a lifetime maximum of $55,000.
Premier Doug Ford said during question period on Monday that when MacLeod took over the ministry she “ran right over to the treasury and asked for $100 million extra to make sure that the 23,000 families that were on the wait list under the previous (Liberal) administration” would get some services.
“We will make sure we take care of the 23,000 families,” the premier also said. “They will be off the wait list in 18 months.”
MacLeod has repeatedly said that the government is spending $321 million, “much more than the $256 million the previous Liberal administration had offered,” something the pre- mier has also said.
But Liberal Leader John Fraser said, when in government, his party spent $317 million in 2017-18 and, for the 2018-19 budget, had allotted $321 million.
When asked about the autism spending, a spokesperson for MacLeod said the minister “has said repeatedly (that) the previous Liberal government’s 2018/ 19 budget was a political budget that they had no intention of fulfilling. The Ontario Autism Program is a clear example of their financial mismanagement.”
The spokesperson said “the total investment into the Ontario Autism Program for the 2018/19 fiscal year is currently projected to be $361 million,” but after that will be $321 million annually.
Mike Moffatt, an assistant professor at the Ivey School of Business, said his son Mats, 3, diagnosed with autism at 18 months, has been on the therapy wait list two years. He says the program would have to serve 40,000 kids — and impose very gentle income-testing — to spend $321million a year, as the government has said.