The McGuinty Minister responsible for autism appears to be “part of the problem rather than the solution” to growing waiting lists, NDP Children and Youth Services Critic, MPP Andrea Horwath, says.

While 1,444 children languish on lists, waiting up to three years for autism treatment programs and eligibility assessments, Horwath said the McGuinty government is failing its commitment to them and their families.

“Today I asked pointedly when waiting lists for children’s autism treatment will end. The Minister did not provide an answer even though she belongs to the government who promised to extend autism treatment to all children regardless of age. The Minister’s weakness is the Achilles heel for progress on getting needed services to children with autism,” Horwath said.

“This is not an acceptable way for the McGuinty government to respond to parents and their very real concerns.”

At a recent Town Hall meeting Horwath attended, parents of children with autism described their fears that children were “rotting on the vine” as a result of the government’s slow pace and inadequate investments.

”What is this minister’s plan and what is the timing for clearing the waiting lists for children with autism, or will the McGuinty government continue to leave children, as parents so heart-wrenchingly described that night, ‘rotting on the vine’?” Horwath questioned.

“It is unconscionable that the McGuinty government abandoned so many children with autism across Ontario by letting them languish on growing waiting lists. Notwithstanding what this minister says, the waiting lists are in fact growing for children with autism—1,063 children as of December, plus another almost 400, some 381 just waiting for their assessment. Will the minister guarantee today that the government’s new benchmarks for assessing children with autism are not going to result in a single child being cut off from their current treatment to make room for the 1,444 children on waiting lists today?”

Horwath said she was not impressed that Minister for Children and Youth Services, Deb Matthews, only answered half the question and pawned off the second part to a colleague.

“The one person you’d expect to be backing autism treatment for every child who needs it would be the Minister of Children and Youth,” Horwath commented. “Unfortunately, she’s barely a factor and that’s part of the problem.”