Ford suspends Hillier over autism remarks
Randy Hillier was suspended from the Progressive Conservative caucus Wednesday after making comments deemed by Premier Doug Ford as “disrespectful to the parents of children with autism.”
The incident, which Hillier is characterizing as a misunderstanding, came on a day when dozens of emotional parents jammed visitors’ galleries at the Ontario Legislature on a file that has left the government visibly scrambling.
Ford announced the indefinite suspension after Hillier, the independent-minded MPP for Lanark—Frontenac — Kingston, said “yada, yada, yada” at the end of question period while parents shouted from the gallery.
Hillier said his comment was directed at MPP Monique Taylor, the lead NDP critic on the issue. He said he found the party’s “exploitation” of families with children on the autism spectrum disheartening.
Hillier later apologized to parents “who may have felt that my comments were directed at them; they were not, and never would be.”
He added that he is proud of the work the Ford government and Community and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod have done on autism treatment reform.
Ford said Hillier’s comments crossed a line.
“I want to listen to every parent and every family member who wants to share their stories and their asks. But Mr. Hillier’s comments crossed the line and that is unacceptable.”
Ford also described autism as “the toughest file I have ever worked on.”
On Wednesday, it was clear why.
Angry and emotional parents filled the galleries and an overflow room as the Progressive Conservative government was asked questions about the new autism program that has sparked outrage from parents across the province.
The PC government promised to get rid of the 23,000long waiting list for autism treatment, which it did. But its new program which offers up to $20,000 a year in treatment funds for some parents and up to $5,000 a year for others — to a maximum of $140,000 for a child with autism who enters the program by the age of two — is being called inadequate by parents. Intensive therapy can cost more than $80,000 a year.
Laura Kefalas, an Ottawa mother of three sons, including a seven year old with autism, was among parents at the Ontario Legislature on Wednesday.
“There was a whole lot of no answers,” she said of question period, adding that parents feel defeated.
“What scares me is whether this is the first step in a series of slippery slopes. What disability are they going to go after next? If they are going to go after children who can’t speak, who is next?”
Kefalas’s son, Noah, 7, is currently receiving two hours of therapy a week after being on a waiting list for three years. As of the end of May, that therapy will end. Kefalas said it will likely be 18 months before she receives funding for any more treatment for him, and that will not cover the therapy he receives now, let alone speech therapy, occupational therapy and respite care.
Noah, who started speaking is sentences in the past year, is going to regress, she fears.
Ottawa Centre NDP MPP Joel Harden, who is his party’s critic for people with disabilities, called Wednesday an “emotionally powerful” day at the Legislature.
He said the parents are frustrated with the situation.
“I think every single one of these parents should be given some kind of public medal for what they do. I don’t think people should have to mortgage their houses (to get treatment for their children).”