Toronto: The Government of Ontario is set to increase annual spending on the Ontario Autism Program to nearly $1 billion following a new $189 million funding boost announced in the recent provincial budget, a move that advocates say is welcome but may still fall short of addressing long-standing service delays.
Children, Community and Social Services Minister Michael Parsa said the majority of the new funding will be directed toward core therapy services, which include applied behaviour analysis, speech-language therapy, and occupational therapy. He noted that the additional investment is intended to expand access and allow more families to be enrolled in the program.
While advocacy groups have acknowledged the increased funding as a positive step, concerns remain over whether it will meaningfully reduce wait times. The Ontario Autism Coalition has expressed skepticism, pointing to previous funding increases that did not significantly improve access to services. The coalition’s president, Alina Cameron, emphasized that past investments failed to produce noticeable progress for families waiting for core therapy.
Current data highlights the scale of the challenge. By the end of 2025, approximately 17,138 children were receiving funding for core services, an increase of about 3,500 from the previous year. However, during the same period, the number of children registered and waiting for services grew by more than 9,800, pushing the total waitlist to over 88,000. Advocates say the wait time for accessing core services can now extend up to five years.
In addition to funding concerns, stakeholders are calling for structural improvements to make the program more efficient. One key issue raised is the lengthy needs assessment process, which can take several hours and is often repeated annually, even for families already in the system. Advocates argue that streamlining such processes could help accelerate access to services.
Minister Parsa acknowledged that ongoing evaluation of the program is necessary but stopped short of committing to specific reforms. He stressed the importance of continued dialogue while ensuring that families remain central to any future changes.
The government also points to interim “pillar” programs available to families while they await core funding, including entry-to-school supports, urgent response services, and caregiver training. However, critics such as NDP children’s services critic Alexa Gilmour argue that these temporary measures do not address the root issue, noting that families often return to long waitlists after completing short-term support programs.
Despite the increased investment, advocates continue to stress that without systemic changes alongside funding, the growing demand for autism services in Ontario may continue to outpace the province’s ability to deliver timely care.