Kenora–Rainy River NDP MPP Howard Hampton yesterday delivered the following statement:

“The McGuinty Liberals are engaged in a bizarre exercise in media spin. As children's aid societies across Ontario are required by law to extend health and protection to children at risk, the McGuinty Liberals are cutting the CAS budgets.

Andrea Horwath, Leader of Ontario’s New Democrats, is pleased the government is finally moving forward with a plan for full-day learning but says families shouldn’t have been forced to wait six years for action.

Ontario’s NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is citing more troubling facts concerning the McGuinty government’s approach to treating Ontario children with autism.

“The government is cutting off more children from IBI when schools are not able to provide the therapy. Instead of funding treatment, the government is allowing waiting lists to balloon and children to languish,” Horwath said in the Ontario Legislature today after revealing the government’s latest quarterly numbers for April to June, 2009.

Kenora—Rainy River NDP MPP Howard Hampton says the McGuinty government will put needy children at risk if it continues to gut funding for the province’s Children’s Aid Societies (CAS).

Referring to the financial pressures being faced by the Rainy River CAS in his riding, Hampton asked for an explanation from Children and Youth Service Minister Deb Matthews during today’s Question Period.

NDP Leader and Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath says the McGuinty government is failing families and children with autism.

Today in Question Period, Horwath called on Children and Youth Services Minister Deb Matthews to review program funding for children like Sebastian Bunda, 6, who has severe autism, but is losing all his government-funded therapy.

Andrea Horwath, new Leader of Ontario’s NDP, called for an immediate review of the government’s Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities program to ensure that families who rely on support aren’t unfairly cut off.