Feds announce $3M in support for autism programs, criticize Ford government

The federal government announced itssupport fornew projects to support people with autism Monday and used the opportunity to call outDoug Ford's government on how it has handledthe autism file.

The Liberals did not commit any new money at theOakville, Ont., news conference, but said $3 million of a $20-million autism fund budgeted in 2018 will go toward the sixinitiatives. It'spart of the Trudeau government's"autism spectrum disorder strategic fund," which earmarks $9.1-millionforcommunity-based projects.

Thepre-election announcement comes after the uproar over the OntarioProgressive Conservative government's decision to change theautism funding model to give families a fixed amount of money determined by theirincome and their child's age.After months of protests and outcry, the province backedoff from its planin July, with the social services minister acknowledging the Ford government"didn't get the redesign right" and that they'rerevertingback to a"needs-based" program.

Oakville MP Pam Damoff decried the Ontario PCs at Monday's announcement, saying Premier Doug Ford and his ministers have displayed "callousness."

"We've all watched the Ford government play cynical, deceptive, political games with the services so manyrely on," she said. "It's been painful to watch."

Damoff said families of people with autism have been treated with disregard, calling it"appalling."

Feds playing 'political games,' Ford governmentsays

Responding to the federal announcement, a provincial spokesperson accused the Trudeau government of playing politics ahead of the generalelection in October.

"Instead of taking the opportunity to commit to a national autism strategy, the Trudeau government opted to play political games," said Christine Wood, spokesperson for the ministerof children, community and social services.

"Today was not about providing services to families, but about scoring political points weeks ahead of a federal election."

Wood said the PCs have committed $600 million for a needs-based autism program.

"By comparison, today's announcement is equal to only 0.5 per centof what our government will spend in Ontario alone," she said.

Damoff said the federal governmentisn't in a position to deliver services for people living with autism that's the province's jobbut they can play a role at the federal level.

She said Ottawaisn't working on a national autism strategy, but is working on the "pillars" of such a plan, includinginformation, affordabilityaccess, employment, housingand research.

Autism support projects based across country

The federally fundedprojects announced Monday arebased across the country, said Damoff, and willsupportpeoplewith autism, as well as their caregivers and families.

The projects address a broad range of issues, from mental health to sexuality to employment,said Damoff, who is parliamentary secretary to the federal minister of health, in a statement.

Partner organizations are also giving$1.1 million for the people behind the announced initiatives, whohad to apply for the government funding.

The projects support both children and adults with autism, Damoffsaid, with someof the initiatives focusing on the transitionto adulthood.

Need for a national autism strategy, parent says

Bruce McIntosh,past president fo the Ontario Autism Coalition, called the federal announcement "underwhelming."

He said the autism community has been asking for a national strategy on autism for 20 years. There needs to be national standards for treatment he said, as well as research and "real action," he added.

"This was less than a fulsome announcement," said McIntosh, who has two children with autism.

In her response from the PCs, Woods alsosaid Justin Trudeau "said no to funding a $19 million Canadian Autism Partnership" two years ago, and saidthe provincial Liberals "underfunded autism services for over a decade."