Stephen Harper's Open Agenda And What It Means for Autism in Canada

Stephen Harper can be accused of many things. He is, IMHO, an arrogant, rigid, individual who would be right at home in the inner circles of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney both in terms of political philosophy and style of government. Harper is an autocratic leader who rules his party with an iron fist. There is no room for independent thought or expression in the Stephen Harper Reform party which has, with the cooperation of a gullible Peter MacKay, stolen the Conservative label from the true Conservative party of Sir John A. MacDonald, John Diefenbaker, Robert Stanfield and Joe Clark.

Stephen Harper is all these things, but it is difficult for anyone to credibly claim that he has a "hidden agenda" as some pundits have done. Stephen Harper has been very open about his goals and his agenda. If Stephen Harper is granted majority control of Canada he will immediately begin the dismantling of our federal government reducing it to nothing more than a shell of what it is today. The result will be the dismantling of medicare, a program which has served Canadians across Canada so well for generations. Medicare coverage of ABA for autism? Not under Harper rule. It is naive to think otherwise.

The tool Harper will use to dismantle the strong federal government is simple. He will introduce plans to formally limit Ottawa's power to spend in areas of provincial jurisdiction. With restrictions on federal spending the federal government will shrink as Harper has always wanted. Federal oversight of medicare will disappear and with it any chance of a National Autism Strategy in Canada or medicare coverage of autism. The ability of autistic children in Canada to receive proper treatment for their autism disorder will depend entirely upon accidents of geography. If they live in Saskatchewan they will get little or nothing. If they move next door to Alberta they will have full coverage.

Many autism advocates, from all regions of Canada, and from all political party backgrounds, are determined to fight hard for a National Autism Strategy of substance, something more than a mediocre web page and a secretive, orchestrated, Autism Symposium of government selected delegates. To have hope of being successful in realizing the dream of a National Autism Strategy one thing is clear - we must do our best to contribute to the political demise of the Harper government.

Good Autism News in New Brunswick Throne Speech

Premier Graham's first throne speech today contained good news for students with autism in New Brunswick schools. During the election campaign Mr. Graham made a very specific promise to provide autism training at UNB-CEL autism intervention program to 100 TA's and Resource teachers. The wait for confirmation of that commitment has been nerve racking but the Throne Speech contains good news in the form of a plan which will be announced this session to increase the number of trained autism support workers in the system. This is of course a very general statement but it means a lot to have such a commitment made in the throne speech. Parents will remain vigilant. We have no choice, we have been let down before and our children can not afford more setbacks on their learning journeys. But today is a good day for New Brunswick school students with autism - a very good day.

http://www.gnb.ca/cnb/Promos/Throne-2007/speech-e.asp

"Your government earned the trust of New Brunswickers by outlining the Charter for Change which will form the basis for many of the initiatives that will be introduced in the coming months. The cornerstones of the Charter for Change are the Three Es – education, energy and economic development.

Your government will work with New Brunswick's teachers, District Education Councils and academic institutions to build the best education system in Canada. This year, your government will release a new Plan for Education. The Minister of Education has been consulting with teachers, District Education Councils, parents and students on this action plan of new ideas and programs to begin transforming our schools.

This year, your government will begin its commitment to implement the MacKay Report recommendations for improving our inclusive education system and meeting the diverse needs of all our students . The Minister of Education will appear before the Standing Committee on Education in order to initiate the discussion on how to ensure that each child in New Brunswick has the chance to reach his or her full potential.

Your government will further demonstrate its commitment to inclusive education by ensuring that new hope is given to children with autism. A plan will be announced this session to increase the number of trained autism support workers in the system.

Your government understands the importance of a school to the community around it. Your government will move forward on a new community schools policy that will enhance the quality of education in rural and urban communities alike by transforming schools into true centres of learning for the whole community.

Truly innovative change will be driven by teachers and your government will announce new measures to support our best teachers and principals in being leaders in innovative education.

During the upcoming session, your government will unveil a new accountability agenda for improving results for early literacy and exceptional learners.

The Departments of Education and Family and Community Services will work jointly and in partnership with stakeholders to develop a long-term plan for child care and early learning."