Menu

Decision 2022

new-ontario-autism-coalition

Decision 2022: The Autism File

, , , , , , , , , , ,

What will the next government do to support families with Autistic children?

It’s one of many questions on the mind of voters with election day set for Thursday, June 2nd.

Alina Cameron is a mom to a seven year old daughter on the Autism spectrum and shared with Acadia News that there were a few interim funding programs available to families.

“If you had applied by a certain date and had registered for the Ontario Autism Program (OAP), there was a patchwork of little programs that were very targeted to help with certain age groups and certain behaviours,” explained Cameron. “There was also the one-time interim funding, and some families were able to access the funds and use it on therapies. Other families didn’t have access to and for many families, like mine, the funding only covered a small portion of the expenses. But now the program is finished and everyone is waiting.”

Cameron is also involved with the Ontario Autism Coalition as well as the Northern Autism Families group.

The provincial program pledged funds to families if they registered before April 2021 for eligible services and supports.

The amount that a family received was based on the age of the child as of April 1, 2022.

When looking at the platforms for the major parties, Cameron noted the PC Party wants the OAP to remain the same with no mention of it in their platform.

Cameron likes what she’s heard and seen from the other parties, adding “We like that they are willing to work with and build on what exists already. Scrapping the program and starting from scratch would waste more of our children’s time… we don’t have time for that.”

Both the Liberals and NDP have said they will get rid of the current age caps that exist for the OAP, and will make the program truly needs based.

The NDP platform calls for an increase to the budget by $125 million by 2024-2025 and the decision making for the treatment in the hands of clinicians and parents, not bureaucrats.

The Liberal platform doesn’t mention an increase to the budget but does indicate a plan to implement direct billing to families.

The Green Party wants to increase funding and implement the Ultimate Wait Time benchmark for diagnosis and access to services.

new-barrett-monteith-farrell-scaled-1

Decision 2022: Thunder Bay-Atikokan

, , , , , , , ,

Just 13 days remain until Election Day in Ontario.

Three of the seven candidates running in Thunder Bay-Atikokan took part in a forum this week hosted by the Anishnawbe Business Professional Association and the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Eric Arner of the Green Party participated virtually while Robert Barrett of the Liberals and NDP incumbent Judith Monteith-Farrell were in the room for the one-hour session.

Kevin Holland, who is running for the Ontario PC Party, declined this invitation to participate, and one extended to his camp to take part in an event hosted by the Thunder Bay & District Injured Workers Support Group earlier in the month.

Barrett can’t understand not taking part in these events, adding “I just think it’s just so disrespectful for the Progressive Conservatives to not be sending out their candidates to speak and be accountable. Not only for the last four years but the next four years going forward.”

Monteith-Farrell feels the strategy is a pretty telling one should they get elected.

“If someone is not willing to talk to constituents and to be in an open forum and answer questions now, what are they going to do when and if they were elected?” Monteith-Farrell asked. “I feel that that is a lost opportunity for them because we don’t know what they stand for.”

Both Barrett and Monteith-Farrell were asked about having a strong voice at Queen’s Park after PC leader Doug Ford stated that he couldn’t even tell who the local members of provincial parliament (MPP) were while on a campaign stop on Saturday, May 7th.

“Doug Ford has been saying that for the last four years about any candidate that isn’t a PC candidate,” stated Monteith-Farrell. “His folks are rock stars and he doesn’t know our names. Maybe if he showed up in the legislature, he would hear a bit more. Just ask Kenora whose emergency rooms were closing, and they have a PC cabinet member there (Greg Rickford) so it’s not helping them.”

“I think any of the three candidates that took part (in the forum today) would do a very good job going forward and representing our constituents,” Barrett added. “I think they really care, our platforms are quite similar and I don’t think the Progressive Conservative platform just fits, whether it’s here in Northwestern Ontario or across the province.”

Election Day is Thursday, June 2nd with advanced polls open this weekend.

vaugeois-lise-headshot

Candidate Profile: Lise Vaugeois

, , , , , , , , ,

On June 2nd, Lise Vaugeois will make another attempt to become the Member of Provincial Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North.

She is running for the NDP after losing in the 2018 election to Liberal incumbent Michael Gravelle by just 813 votes.

“I have more experience this time around and I am more confident,” Vaugeois reflected, when asked what’s different this time. “I was ready the last time around, and we came very close to defeating Michael. People like Michael and I like him too. I feel like the NDP is really well positioned this time around. We have had 40 members in opposition that were not able to do nearly as much as they would like to do if they were working with a cooperative government.”

Vaugeois, who is a professor with Lakehead University and also a small business owner, was chosen as the candidate in February.

She feels she would be perfect for the role based on her ability to think on her feet and pivot quickly, which are skills that teachers have.

For the NDP, it’s about putting money back into areas like health care and education.

“We have as many as 45 students in some classes. I think the (PC government) let go between three and four thousand teachers before the (COVID-19) pandemic, and then we get into the pandemic and it has been disastrous for teachers, students and it doesn’t need to be,” Vaugeois added.

Election Day is Thursday, June 2nd