THUNDER BAY — A $60 million boost in autism funding is very welcome, says the president of the Ontario Autism Coalition, but questions remain for local caregivers.
The 2025 provincial budget included an increase in funding for the Ontario Autism Program, from about $720 million to $779 million, but that's not enough according to Thunder Bay's Alina Cameron.
“Any increase to the Ontario Autism Program funding-wise is greatly appreciated and needed, but we're left with a lot of questions about where this funding is going to be used specifically,” said Cameron.
A media release from the Ontario Autism Coalition said previous funding increases appeared to be lost, consumed by administrative costs and systematic inefficiencies without resulting into real, measurable changes for families.
Although similar levels of funding have been allocated to the Ontario Autism Program in previous years, the number of children currently wait-listed for core clinical services has reached an all-time high.
“Early intervention, a proven and essential element of care, is virtually non-existent in Ontario,” Cameron said. “It's a minimum of five years wait at present, meaning an early intervention is not accessible right now.”
With the lack of essential supports, it has become increasingly more common for one parent to leave the workforce and care for their child full-time, adding pressure to the family dynamic, she said.
“The longer the wait, the greater the cost,” said Cameron.
The growing backlog and strain on caregivers proves the urgent need to reassess how funding is allocated, and how resources are delivered to meet the rising demand for services, she added.
“The consequences are, you have a whole cohort of children in Ontario who are needlessly going through life, struggling,” Cameron said.
She suggested families seeking more support should connect with local support groups, for both themselves and their children, and to reach out to their child’s teacher or school staff for additional resources.
“The Ontario Autism Coalition is doing political advocacy provincially, and we are always ready and waiting to help people with their advocacy in their perspective regions,” Cameron said.
More information on supports and services in Thunder Bay can be found here.
