Fredericton Liberal Matt DeCourcey: Liberal Party Committed to A National Autism Strategy Addressing Access to ABA/IBI

Fredericton Liberal Candidate Matt DeCourcey

Email received October 2, 2015 from Fredericton Liberal Candidate Matt DeCourcey stating Liberal Party supports creation of a National Autism Strategy addressing ABA and IBI access and coverage under Medicare:

Hi Harold,

Thank you for the email. I apologize for the delay in my response. I want to let you know that the Liberal Party and I fully support the creation of a national autism strategy. Our party recognizes that in certain provinces, autism treatments, including ABA and IBI are covered under provincial Medicare programs and are more readily available in other provinces. Health care access challenges like these are something that the Liberal Party is committed to addressing.

First and foremost, we need a conversation that goes beyond simply mirroring previously made commitments. We need a partner in the federal government that is committed to innovation and collaboration with the provinces and territories to achieve a modern, efficient, equitable system of universal health care. The Liberal Party is committed to that collaboration.

A Liberal government will re-engage the provinces after 10 years of Stephen Harper neglect. We will meet on Canadian health care and negotiate a new Health Accord with the provinces and territories, including an agreement on long-term funding. Furthermore, our party is committed to pan-Canadian collaboration on health innovation. We will work with provincial jurisdictions to overcome obstacles to innovation in health care delivery and access.

Thank you again for your email. I hope that I’ve helped to clarify the Liberal Party’s position on support for those living with autism. If you have any further questions please reach out.

Best,

Matt

Will Adult Autism Care Issues Be Considered During #nbvotes 2014?

New Brunswick election 2014 is underway with the NDP, Liberal, Green and PANB parties going all out to replace the PC party.  Party signs are proliferating around the city of Fredericton. The Liberal Party kicked off big time in Fredericton with special guest federal Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and provincial leader Brian Gallant. It was a lively, well organized event and the optimism was clear. I enjoyed my brief chat with the charming greeting ladies pictured outside the Fredericton Ex building. In a general sense I enjoy elections, I firmly believe, despite the many legitimate bases for criticism that they are the foundation of our amazing freedoms that our soldiers have fought for and died to preserve.

There are many important issues in this election as in many others.  It will be easy for our political party leaders to overlook the needs of adults with complex severe autism disorders for whom group homes are not always an option.  In the past our "inclusive", "community" oriented province has sent severely autistic adults out of the province or to the psychiatric hospital on our northern border with Quebec far from most families in the much more heavily populated south of New Brunswick.  Maybe, just maybe, beginning with this election, our leaders will accept the reality that NB includes severely autistic adults in need of permanent residential care in a facility with professionally trained staff and oversight, a facility located in Fredericton close to the autism expertise  developed at the Stan Cassidy Centre and the UNB-CEL Autism Intervention program.

The Future of NBers with Autism Will Be Decided Here; Please Vote FOR Autism

Today New Brunswickers will vote.  

We will come together and decide who will represent us in the  legislature.  This is the most important decision we, citizens in this province, will make for the next 4 years.  

If news reports are true many will vote in anger or cynicism or out of a desire to punish the governing party. That is their democratic right. That is your democratic right. I ask you though, as the father of an autistic son, to not let anger determine the future of your family member with autism. Please vote FOR our autistic loved ones, family members and family friends with autism.  Please do not vote in anger or cynicism. Vote for the party that, over the past 4 years,  made New Brunswick a leader in preschool and school autism services in Canada.  

Please do not vote for a party attempting to capitalize on anger. Do not vote for a party which will give New Brunswickers cliches like "community", "inclusion", and "connecting the dots" but will dismantle the evidence based programs that have been built and helped our children.  Do not vote for a party which will dismantle New Brunswick's Canada leading evidence based early intervention and education system.  Please do not vote for anger and the Conservative Party.  Please vote Liberal ... for the continuation of solid autism programs that have benefited our children.

Autism Promise 2006: Liberals Kept Their Word and New Brunswick Became a Leader in Educating Children with Autism

If you are the parent, family member, or family friend of a child with autism who is being educated  or assisted at a neighborhood school by an autism trained Teacher Assistant and autism trained Resource Teacher, as I am, please remember that these services resulted from an extraordinary promise made ... and kept .... by  Liberal leader Shawn Graham who kept that commitment as Premier once his Liberal party formed the government. My son Conor, and many other autistic school children in New Brunswick,  received the benefits of that promise and the UNB-CEL autism trained Teacher Assistant instruction and individual instruction program put together with the help of autism trained Resource Teachers. 

Tomorrow as you cast your ballots please remember the following autism commitment  made to then Autism Society NB President Lila Barry on behalf of autistic children and their families. The commitment was made,  and honored, by  Shawn Graham and his Liberal government. The fulfillment of that commitment has helped many autistic children in New Brunswick, including my son Conor.  The fulfillment of that autism commitment has made New Brunswick a leader in educating children with autism :

From: Graham, Shawn (LEG)
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 2:37 PM
To: lila barry
Subject: Liberal Platform

Dear Ms. Barry:

Thank you for your letter and for sharing your concerns with me. In our Liberal election platform that will be released this week, we are committing to the implementation of the recommendations of the Interdepartmental Committee on Autism released in November 2001. Although we realize this document is now nearly five years old, it does provide a basis on which to develop, in partnership with the stakeholders, a strategy that will assist children with autism from early childhood and into adulthood.

As well, we will take two concrete steps to address the immediate needs of children with autism in two areas: a case management process and UNB-CEL autism training.

A new Liberal government will:

1. Integrate services for young children and their families by enhancing and expanding the Early Childhood Initiatives Program to ensure a smooth transition into public school for children identified as at risk or those with special needs, such as autism.


2. Provide UNB-CEL autism training for 100 additional teaching assistants and Methods and Resource teachers each year for four years.

I commend you and the members of the Autism Society of New Brunswick on your tireless advocacy on behalf of children with autism. You are truly making a difference in many lives. Please feel free to contact me at any time.

Yours truly,

Shawn Graham

Best Autism Tweet of the New Brunswick Election From Liberal Kelly Lamrock

  " klamrock: Still more to do on #autism file. We'll work w/parents to address adult care incl community-based residential care #nbvotes

4 days ago via Mobile Web · Reply · View Tweet "

Over the last 4 years the Liberal government honored a commitment by Premier Graham to provide  4 years of UNB-CEL Autism Intervention Training to classes of approximately 100  teacher assistants and resource teachers a year over the objections of some senior Education officials, who actually knew little about autism. They also faced opposition from some union officials who opposed autism specfiic training for TA's. I was involved in many of the discussions and I can tell you from personal knowledge that it was a very tough fight to do the right thing for New Brunswick's autistic students. I can tell you from very direct, personal involvement that Kelly Lamrock and the Shawn Graham Liberal government honored their commitment and put the interests of NB's autistic students ahead of vested adult interests.

When Kelly Lamrock says that a Liberal government will work with the parents to address the address adult care including community based residential care this father of a severely autistic 14 year old son, who has been involved very intensely with the changes that have made New Brunswick a leader in pre-school intervention and education of autistic children says ... I believe Kelly Lamrock and a Liberal government will keep their word. I believe it because I have already seen them do it.  

 

Vote Autism October 14 Vote Smart Vote Liberal or NDP

If you want to vote for federal assistance in providing autism treatment in Canada vote against the Conservative in your riding. Vote for the NDP or Liberal, whichever is stronger, in your riding.

A person's vote is an important matter. In casting that vote people generally consider a variety of facts, issues, platforms etc. My vote is heavily influenced by autism issues. I have already stated that I would not be voting Conservative or Green. The Conservative hostility to a federal role in dealing with Canada's autism crisis makes the Tories a non starter. The Green party has many admirable principles but has shown no knowledge of autism issues or any real concern, at the leadership and party platform level, about addressing Canada's autism crisis. The first goal of Canadians who, like me, want to see a federal commitment to addressing Canada's autism crisis, should be to defeat the Conservatives and elect as many Liberals and NDP as possible.

Both the Liberal and NDP parties have many members committed to a real National Autism Strategy, led by Shawn Murphy for the Liberals and Peter Stoffer for the NDP. NDP leader Jack Layton makes no commitment to doing anything for autism and Liberal leader Dion essentially offers only to be receptive to overtures from stakeholders. Slim pickings overall but only a government led by the Liberals or NDP, either as a majority government or as a coalition with one party supporting the other, offers ANY hope for a federal government commitment for a REAL national autism strategey, one that provides federal funding for ABA treatment for autistic children in Canada regardless of where their parents happen to live. The way to ensure the defeat of the anti-autism Conservatives and put the Liberals and/or NDP in government is to vote strategically. If the NDP are stronger in your riding vote NDP. If the Liberals are stronger vote Liberal. In this way more NDP and Liberals, and fewer Conservatives, are likely to be elected and those results will better serve the cause of autism in Canada.

Some advocates for environmental causes have already recognized the need to vote strategically. At Vote For Environment they recognize that it is necessary to vote to change the government in order to help the environment. Governments, not individual MP's, govern and legislate. The front page currently contains information setting out what would occur if voting were held today and votes were split based on party loyalty and what would occur if smart voting, voting to change the government were to happen:

The difference between vote splitting between the two "autism" parties and smart voting for whichever party Liberal/NDP is stronger in your riding is startling. Vote splitting will result in another Conservative/Bloc alliance, the same alliance which refuses to provide federal funding for autism treatment. Voting smart, voting for whichever "autism" party, Liberal or NDP, is stronger in your riding results in a Liberal/NDP alliance and the possibilty of a real national autism policy. Both of these parties, and their leaders voted in support of Shawn Murphy's motion to amend the Canada Health Act to include coverage of ABA treatment for autism.

Elections are decided riding by riding and Vote for Environment also sets out riding by riding information to help you decide how to vote. I strongly encourage "autism" voters to check out the information for their riding and vote for the stronger of the NDP or Liberal parties in their riding.

An interesting example is the riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka, home riding of alleged Health Minister Tony Clement.

As the data indicates Conservative Tony Clement would win again if voting took place today and the Liberal and NDP votes were split. If NDP voters voted instead for the second place Liberal candidate the Liberal would win.

Autism vote recommendation for Parry Sound- Muskoka - Vote Liberal

Oshawa is an example of a riding where the Conservative Candidate is leading and the NDP is second. If Oshawa Liberals voted NDP though the NDP candidate would likely win. One less Conservative elected and one more vote for a party that is much more likely to support a real National Autism Strategy.

Autism vote recommendation for Oshawa - Vote NDP

If enough strategic voting takes place across Canada the Conservative Party, which staunchly opposes federal involvement in addressing Canada's Autism Crisis, will be defeated. One or both of the Liberal Party and NDP will form the government. Both of these are "autism parties" and more likely to enact a real National Autism Strategy.

autism

Autism Position of the Liberal Party of Canada

The Liberal Party of Canada recognizes the challenges that autistic Canadians face, as well as those affected by autism. That is why we had invested $16.2 million in autism research grants, which funded 32 separate projects. Although the delivery of health care services falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, a Liberal government would be open to discussions with the provinces, territories and relevant stakeholders about considerations for those who are living with or affected by autism.

Although the delivery of health care services falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction, a Liberal government would be open to discussions with the provinces, territories and relevant stakeholders about considerations for those who are living with or affected by autism."

The above information follows a backgrounder on autism and autism issues in Canada from the perspective of the Liberal Party of Canada. This information was provided by a Liberal Party staffer to a representative of an autism organization and appears to be the official Liberal Party position. It essentially offers dialogue but makes no commitments for federal funding of autism treatment. It is a very weak and disappointing statement from the party of Charlottetown MP Shawn Murphy, the author of private members Bill C-304, which sought amendment of the Canada Health Act to include ABA treatment for autism. Most Liberal MPs, including Stephane Dion, voted in support of that motion. Now they make no commitment except to talk in the future.

Meanwhile autistic children across Canada will be going without the effective treatment they need.



autism

Autism Parents in Ontario Furious With Liberal Government

Judging by some of the responses to a question asked by the Toronto Star there are many people, including parents of autistic children, who are furious with the spending decisions of the Liberal government of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Will family members of autistic children in Ontario get political and send the Liberals a ballot box commentary on how their children have been treated?



The Star asked whether the auditor general's report about grants to Ontario's multicultural groups will make you less likely to vote for the Liberals this fall.

Some of the responses as reported on TheStar.com at:





Jul 30, 2007 04:42 PM

http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/241399

I actually decided against voting Liberal this time when I read your report regarding the spending of $2.4 million of taxpayer money fighting a seven-year court battle against the parents of autistic children.
Carolyn Hood, Toronto

As the parent of a 6-year-old with autism who has been cut off from provincial services by a mean-spirited and reactionary provincial government, I am disgusted that $32 million was available to squander with a wink and a nod while services to families of children with disabilities are woefully underfunded or non-existent. Even to access the pittances available requires us to jump through endless hoops to satisfy requirements. This is in marked contrast to the ease in which Minister Colle handed out his grants.
Robert Shalka, Orleans, Ont.

As a parent of an autistic child, I find the government’s funding conducts outrageous and sickening. While my son is waiting to receive treatment he needs desperately, the government rushed to hand money to people who don’t need it. How can you tell kids like my son to wait, while giving money to people to put in the bank? Julie Lin, Toronto

Andy Scott Speaks On Autism In House of Commons

Fredericton MP Andy Scott continued his efforts on behalf of persons with autism with this statement in the House of Commons yesterday, June 5, 2007.

Autism

[Table of Contents]

Hon. Andy Scott (Fredericton, Lib.):

Mr. Speaker, it is regrettable that we have seen little action by the government toward implementing a national autism strategy.

It has been more than a year since I introduced Motion No. 172. My private member's motion called for evidence based standards, innovative funding arrangements for diagnosis, treatment and research, and a national surveillance program.

The motion was adopted in good faith and supported by the government. However, it was very disappointing to see no reference to a national autism strategy in the recent budget or any discussion this spring.

Recently, I joined my colleagues from Charlottetown and Sackville—Eastern Shore and Senator Munson at a rally in Halifax that reinforced that there are families with autistic children across Canada who need the government's help.

The Conservatives should move off their default position of jurisdictional excuses, show creativity and compassion and start helping these Canadians.

An Autism Question for the Hon. Stephane Dion

2007-06-05

The Hon. Stephane Dion, P.C., M.P.
Leader of the Official Opposition
Liberal Party of Canada

Dear Mr. Dion

An Autism Question

I am the father of two sons one of whom has classic Autism Disorder, with profound developmental delays, and I have been an autism advocate for the last eight years. This year I watched hopefully, but with no illusions, as Liberal MP Shawn Murphy of Charlottetown introduced Bill C-304, a Private Member's bill, which would called for amendment of the Canada Health Act to provide coverage for autism treatments. As expected, Bill C-304 was defeated by the governing Conservative Party and its partner, the Bloc Quebecois. The Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party both voted, by and large, in support of Bill C-304. You personally cast a vote in support of the Bill.

Autism is a serious neurological disorder which affects 1 in 150 Canadians, including 1 in 94 male Canadians. Persons with an autism disorder can display a wide range of deficits including intellectual, communication, behavioural and social deficits. While no known cure exists, a treatment which has been empirically demonstrated in hundreds of studies to decrease the negative autism deficits, and in some cases virtually eliminate, these deficits exists. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) has been demonstrated to improve the abilities in all these areas and improve the quality of life of autistic persons in hundreds of studies. Effective, early and intensive intervention with ABA, in addition to being effective in treating autistic children, has also been shown to save governments very substantial sums of money in provision of government services over the life of an autistic person.

Despite these facts, governments in Canada have an atrocious record in dealing with the Autism Crisis which confronts Canada and in helping these very vulnerable people. In British Columbia and Ontario governing parties reversed election campaign promises to provide medicare coverage for autism choosing instead to spend hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars to fight in court the parents of autistic children they had pledged to help. Mr. Dion I hope that you will not follow these shameful precedents, I hope you will not forget your vote in support of Bill C-304.

Mr. Dion, will you tell me, and other parents and caregivers of autistic children and persons, if the Liberal Party of Canada will, once elected, introduce legislation in the first year of your taking office as Prime Minister, to include autism treatment in medicare for all Canadians with autism regardless of residence and regardless of income?

Respectfully,


Harold L Doherty
Fredericton
New Brunswick

cc The Canadian Public

Autism Supporter & Election Candidate - Stewart C. Paul (L) Tobique-Mactaquac

The current Conservative government of Stephen Harper, backed by the separatist Bloc Quebecois, voted down the Shawn Murphy motion to amend the Canada Health Act to ensure that autistic children, regardless of where they happened to live in Canada would receive government funded proven effective ABA treatment for their autism. The budget brought down by the Harper government gave $0 ZERO dollars for autism. Conservative MP's across Canada have marched in lockstep uniformity to deny federal government assistance for autism even elminating funds for a well respected autism summer camp in Ontario. The next election will be critical for the success of efforts to put in place a serious national autism strategy in Canada and it is important to identify and support candidates who are prepared to support a national autism strategy. One such candidate is Stewart C. Paul the Liberal candidate for Tobique-Mactaquac here in New Brunswick.

Stewart is a long time friend, and professional associate, who has been very supportive of my efforts on behalf of my son Conor and of the cause of autism generally. He has pledged to support a national autism strategy if elected and he has the background to know how to offer effective support on the national scene. Stewart Paul is the Liberal candidate for Tobique-Mactaquac and a supporter of the cause of autistic persons on the national scene in Ottawa. If you live in the Tobique-Mactaquac area and have an autistic child or know someone who is autistic or if you are yourself autistic remember Stewart Paul when you cast your ballot in the next federal election.

http://www.nblib.nb.ca/stewart_paul.html

Born and raised in the riding of Tobique – Mactaquac, in Tobique First Nation, Stewart Paul graduated from Perth High School, where he was active in student life and served as President of the Student Council.

As a young person, he was moved by the difficult social conditions and economic disparities evident in his home community, and developed an early interest in issues related to social justice, economic development, and education.

He attended the University of New Brunswick, where he took an undergraduate degree in arts (majoring in history and sociology), then a law degree. In addition to his BA and LLB degrees, he earned a Diploma in Social Leadership from the Coady Institute at St. Francis Xavier University. He is a 25-year member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of New Brunswick.

His first jobs were as an education consultant with the NB Department of Education in Fredericton, and as a Policy Analyst with the Assembly of First Nations in Ottawa. In the early 1980's, he co-founded the Mi’kmaq-Maliseet Institute in the Faculty of Education at the University of New Brunswick, a respected organization dedicated to the training and professional development of Native educators. He practiced law for several years in Fredericton before returning home in the late 1980's to enter political life. He served several terms as Chief of the Tobique First Nation during which time much about the community was transformed. He maintained a private law practice in Perth-Andover throughout this time and to the present day.He also presently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Peace Hills Trust, a national financial institution. He has been married for 40 years. He and his wife, Sandra, have four children and nine grandchildren.

He brings experience to the table that spans job creation, education, health, natural resources, business development, and community infrastructure. He has strong skills related to leadership, management, and government administration. He has worked in regional and national policy development, and has experience with complex legal and financial negotiations. He is also familiar with Ottawa and the provincial government.

As a lifelong resident of Tobique-Mactaquac, he is committed to the entire region. He has been an active member of the Liberal party in this region for nearly 20 years, and he understands the challenges facing the region, and the aspirations of its people. He has much to offer, and would be a strong representative of the people in Ottawa. He is a seasoned political leader, a strong campaigner, and a hard worker.

He was nominated as the Liberal candidate for the Electoral District of Tobique – Mactaquac on April 28, 2007.

Good News from Ontario on Autism & Education - ABA in Ontario Schools

Good news for autistic students in Ontario. The government of Ontario is directing ALL school boards to provide Applied Behaviour Analysis to all students with autism.


TORONTO, May 17 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is improving the learning environment for students with autism spectrum disorders by directing all school boards to provide Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Education Minister Kathleen Wynne announced today.

"All students with autism deserve equal access to this vital teaching
approach that can improve their focus on individual projects and strengthen
their communication with other students in the classroom," said Wynne.
"We are implementing our plan to ensure students with autism receive the
best education possible."

The Ministry of Education instructed school boards today that they must
provide programs that use ABA methods to students who need it. This
directive is part of the government's response to the recommendations of
Autism Reference Group report, Making a Difference for Students with
Autism Spectrum Disorders in Ontario Schools: From Evidence to Action,
received earlier this year.

The implementation of ABA will be supported by extensive staff training
starting with six to eight representatives, including superintendents,
principals, teachers, teaching assistants, school support staff and Special
Education Advisory Committee members, from each school board over the
next two months. This will be followed by school team training - funded
through a $1-million investment - for up to 1,400 principals, educational
assistants and teachers over the summer months.

Additionally, the government has provided a grant of $2.75 million to
the Geneva Centre for Autism. "We are very grateful for the government's
support so we can provide further training on ABA approaches to school
staff in the fall," said Margaret Whelan, Executive Director of the Geneva
Centre for Autism. "This investment will allow educators to help more
students with autism succeed."