October Is Autism Inaction Month In Canada

October is Autism Awareness Month in Canada. On the federal level though it would be more accurate to refer to October as Autism Inaction Month. Neither the Liberals, when they governed, nor the current Harper Conservative regime have taken any serious action to address Canada's Autism Crisis. With one in 150 Canadians and their family members affected by an autism spectrum disorder our federal government, despite its constitutional spending authority, does nothing of substance to provide evidence based treatment for autistic children.

The Harper government has established an autism web page. It also held a sham national "Autism Symposium" from which the voices of advocates for autism treatment for ALL autistic Canadians , regardless of province of residence, were excluded.

No real action is being taken. A federal election is now taking place. The NDP party leader Jack Layton reminds us all of the hard work for the autism cause of NDP MP Peter Stoffer, whose efforts are very much appreciated. But he makes no commitment to take action to address the autism crisis.

The Liberals have also had some strong autism advocates, Senator Jim Munson, and MP's Shawn Murphy and Andy Scott. Their efforts too are appreciated. But it is difficult to understand the Liberal party position on autism enunciated by Stephane Dion, He seems to be saying that, if elected, he might listen to the concerns of stakeholders and provinces. Whoop de doo.

In Canada, October is the month we should remind ourselves of all that our federal government is NOT doing to help persons with autism. And continue fighting on every level of government, including the federal level, to address Canada's autism crisis.

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On Autism Issues Illinois Governor Shames Canada's Party Leaders

There is a federal election underway in Canada but autistic children and adults and their families are not included. NONE of the leaders of Canada's federal parties will commit to taking any real action to help. Not one.

Conservative leader Stephen Harper and his party continue their longstanding and total neglect and lack of concern for autistic children and adults in Canada. NDP leader Jack Layton recounts the excellent work done by NDP MP Peter Stoffer, a true champion of autistic individuals and their families, but makes no commitment himself, or on behalf of his party, to help. Likewise Liberal leader Stephane Dion who actually voted for Liberal MP Shawn Murphy's unsuccessful motion to amend the Canada Health Act to provide ABA coverage for autism under Medicare has offered to talk to provinces and stakeholders to listen to their "concerns". Green Party leader Elizabeth May has, so far, been silent on autism issues.

In the US, by contrast, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich called lawmakers into special session to deal with a state Senate committee measure that seeks to require insurance companies to cover expanded treatment for autism, as reported in the Chicago Tribune:

It's the Senate's third attempt this year to approve the measure, which would require insurers to cover up to $36,000 a year and unlimited doctor visits until age 21 for people with autism spectrum disorders.

In Illinois Governor Blagojevich takes action to ensure funding for autism treatment. In Canada our federal leaders either ignore autism altogether or offer self congratulatory sermons with no commitment or action to back them up. I am sure Governor Blagojevich does not have Canada in mind with his determination to help autistic children and their families in Illinois but he does, by example, put our federal leaders to shame.

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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.



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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