Laying the foundation to help Canadians and families affected by autism

Speaking notes for the Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario

"Laying the foundation to help Canadians
and families affected by autism"

November 21, 2006
National Press Theatre
Ottawa, ON

Check Against Delivery

• Good morning everyone.

• It is my pleasure to be here today to announce the latest action Canada's new government is taking to help Canadian families.

• Over the past 10 months, Canadians have witnessed a government that has followed through on its promises and commitments for families such as:
• Protecting our communities, and our way of life by cracking down on guns, gangs, and drugs;
• Giving parents choice in child care by providing direct financial support and new child care spaces; and
• Guaranteeing timely health care services to Canadians by moving towards Patient Wait Times Guarantees.

• Today, we are announcing a series of measures to help the thousands of Canadians, children, youth and adults, with autism spectrum disorders, or ASD, and their families.

• Our government recognises this as an extremely important issue.

• We recognize the challenges individuals, families, caregivers, health and social service professionals are facing.

• The challenges are magnified by the reality that issues surrounding Autism Spectrum Disorder are complex and often compounded by other clinical factors.

• We don't fully understand what causes it, why the numbers of children with ASD appear to be growing, and why there seem to be differences in Canada by region. 

• Added to this, we lack consensus on what constitutes adequate and appropriate treatment. 

• What we do know is that thousands of Canadians and their families are suffering, and as a result, we need to act now to help fill the knowledge gaps.

• Doing nothing is not an option. 

• Based on some of the letters I have received, many Canadian families are facing financial hardship, feeling exhausted and feeling as though no one has been listening.

• While providing services for Canadians with autism is a provincial/territorial responsibility, our government has an important role to play.

• That's why we are announcing today efforts to bolster information, research, monitoring, sharing knowledge and best practices.

• FIRST, we will work to create a research Chair focusing on effective treatments and interventions for autism.

• By doing so, we will continue supporting Canada's health researchers in pursuit of better treatments.

• SECOND, to help shape appropriate future programming and research, we will launch a consultation process toward developing an autism surveillance program through the Public Health Agency of Canada.

• THIRD, we will sponsor a stakeholder symposium in 2007.

• Its goal will be to encourage the development and sharing of greater knowledge among health care professionals, researchers, community groups, teachers and families.

• FOURTH, a new web page has been created on the Health Canada web site.

• It will help Canadians by guiding them to useful information on autism spectrum disorder.

• FIFTH, the Health Policy Branch of Health Canada will be designated as the ASD policy lead at the Health Portfolio level. 

• This means the Health Policy Branch will coordinate all actions related to ASD taken by the Health Portfolio in the future.

• In total, today's new initiatives will contribute to laying the foundations to improve our understanding of autism and its prevalence in Canada. 

• They also build on existing research and ongoing efforts to provide tax relief for families who have children with disabilities.

• Our government's 2006 budget increased the maximum annual Child Disability Benefit from $2,044 dollars to $2,300 dollars, and extended it, allowing more families to qualify.

• This came into effect July 1st, and 30 days later Finance Minister Flaherty appointed an expert panel to examine options for helping parents save for the long-term financial security of children with disabilities.

• Chaired by Mr. James Barton Love, the panel is examining a range of potential savings vehicles, and will make recommendations on measures to take.

• The Public Health Agency of Canada is funding two autism-related projects through its Centres of Excellence for Children's Well-Being. 

• Both projects are working to generate better information for frontline workers and families.

• On the research front, the Canadian Institutes for Health Research is supporting the Canadian Autism Intervention Research Network.

• CIHR has provided a $2 million dollar grant for a survey following children with ASD over 3 to 4 years as they make the transition to school.

• The results can eventually be used to help guide the development of new programs to help make that transition more positive for children in the future.

• Action such as research like this - led by Doctor Peter Szatmari (ZATT-mahr-EE) at McMaster University - along with new tax relief - and the initiatives I have announced today will help all Canadians affected by ASD.

• We know that families and experts in this area have waited - and advocated for - strong leadership to address the knowledge gaps.

• I am proud to say, here and now, that Canada's New Government is listening.

• Through the announcements today and in particular the symposium to come, we realize that our government has an important role to play.

• We also realize that the time to act is now - because too many individuals, children, youth and adults, and their families have already waited far too long for a response to their pleas.

• While I know there may still be a long way to go, better information and increased knowledge is the most effective and efficient fuel to speed our progress.

• As I conclude, I want to take an opportunity to thank the many advocates, researchers and family members who have spearheaded the efforts that have led to this historical day.

• In doing so, I also want recognize the efforts in Parliament led by my close colleague and Parliamentary Secretary, Steven Fletcher, and MP Andy Scott of the Opposition.

• Together, they have worked to cast partisan differences aside for the good of Canadians suffering from autism, and their families.

• It is actions like this, complementing the years of effort, struggle and awareness-building by advocates and families, which have led to today, and will fuel our progress beyond tomorrow.

• Thank you.