Question Period Note: Autism

The Government is committed to working collaboratively with provinces, territories, families, Autistic people in Canada, Indigenous Peoples, and stakeholders toward the creation of a strategy and framework for autism in Canada.

The Government is committed to helping and supporting the needs of all Autistic Canadians, their families, supporters, and caregivers.
The Public Health Agency of Canada is working towards the creation of both a strategy and framework for autism in Canada to inform future actions and supports.
The framework and strategy will be informed by the discussions that took place at the 2022 National Autism Conference, the findings of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences’ engagement activities and scientific review, and engagement with federal partners, provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, families, and other stakeholders.
IF PRESSED ON THE FEDERAL FRAMEWORK ON AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
The Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act outlines a commitment for the development of a framework designed to support Autistic people in Canada, their families, supporters, and caregivers. The Framework will set broad, high-level guiding principles and best practices, and will guide national autism activities.

Government of Canada Initiatives: The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is leading the development of an autism strategy for Canada and provided $1.67 million to the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) to undertake a neutral, arms-length assessment on autism. The CAHS conducted a broad and inclusive public engagement, open to all people in Canada, and a thorough evidence and scientific review through a social determinants of health lens, to inform the Government of Canada’s work to develop an autism strategy for Canada. The CAHS Autism Assessment Report was published on May 10, 2022.
Budget 2021 announced $15.4 million for PHAC ($8.4 million in existing and $7 million in new funding) to support strategy development ($4.1 million), address gaps in autism surveillance ($2.2 million), and assist with the development of IT infrastructure to support data collection ($0.7 million).
Federal Framework: The Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act (former Bill S-203) came into force on March 30, 2023. The Act requires the development of a framework to support Autistic people in Canada, their families, supporters and caregivers. Measures to be provided include financial support for Autistic persons, support for caregivers, online resources and best practices, a national research network and a national awareness campaign, requirements for consultation, a national conference, and regular reporting to Parliament on implementation of the federal framework.
The framework sets broad, high-level guiding principles related to autism policy and programs, aligned with other disability-related activities, and will guide ongoing and future national autism activities. Specific short and medium-term deliverables will be set out in more detail in a multi-year strategic plan (an autism strategy for Canada) focused on key priority areas.
National Autism Network: Since March 2023, PHAC has been working with three key stakeholders (Autism Alliance of Canada, Pacific Autism Family Network, Autism Speaks Canada) to explore the elements required for a potential National Autism Network (NAN) that could support the implementation of Canada’s Autism Strategy.
The final report from the Partnership is expected in Fall 2023. It will outline the requirements to design, develop, implement, and evaluate a potential NAN as well as the estimated resources to establish it . PHAC will examine the findings in the report, scope an approach for implementing the Network, and initiate an open competitive process.

Autism (also known as autism spectrum disorder or ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. Every Autistic person has a unique combination of symptoms and symptom intensity, and many individuals may also have co-occurring conditions. Since everyone experiences the condition differently, supports should match individual needs.