Question Period Note: Autism

N/A

The Government is committed to working collaboratively with provinces, territories, families, Autistic Canadians, Indigenous Peoples, and stakeholders toward the creation of a national autism strategy.
Key Messages
• The Government of Canada is committed to helping and supporting the needs of all Autistic Canadians, their families, supporters, and caregivers.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada is leading the development of a national autism strategy, which will focus on improving the health and well-being of Autistic individuals, their families, supporters, and caregivers.
• The national autism strategy will be informed by the discussions, collaboration and knowledge-sharing that took place at the 2022 National Autism Conference, along with the findings of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences’ engagement activities and scientific review, and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s engagement with federal partners, provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, families, and other stakeholders.
If pressed on the Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder
• The recently enacted Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act outlines a commitment for the development of a federal framework designed to support Autistic Canadians, their families, and caregivers. The Framework will

In the Minister of Health’s 2021 Mandate Letter, the federal government committed to accelerate the development of the national autism strategy. This reiterates the 2019 Mandate Letter commitment to work in collaboration with provinces, territories, families, and stakeholders towards the creation of a national autism strategy.
Government of Canada Initiatives: The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is leading the development of a national autism strategy 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 Canadians and a thorough evidence and scientific review through a social determinants of health lens, to inform the Government of Canada’s work to develop a national autism strategy. The CAHS Autism Assessment Report was published on May 10, 2022.
On November 15-16, 2022, PHAC hosted the National Autism Conference which was a key milestone in the development of a national autism strategy. The Conference brought people together from across Canada to solidify priorities for action over the short, medium and long-term.
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).
PHAC Investments: Budget 2018 provided $20 million over five years to support two new initiatives:
1) The Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Knowledge Exchange Network (AIDE Canada) ($10.9 million/5 years) provides Autistic Canadians, their families and caregivers access to online resources, an inventory of services and supports, employment opportunities, local programming, six in-person locations across the country and a COVID-19 Resource Hub; and
2) The Autism Spectrum Disorder Strategic Fund is providing $9.1 million over 5 years for community-based projects that pursue innovative program models, help reduce stigma, and integrate health, social and educational components to better serve the complex needs of Autistic Canadians and their families.
PHAC Surveillance Activities: PHAC is working with various partners and stakeholders to enhance surveillance of autism spectrum disorder through the development of new data and reporting on prevalence, including all jurisdictions, age ranges (children, youth, and adults), co-occurring conditions, as well as other demographic and equity indicators. For example, in February 2022, PHAC released a report titled “Autism Spectrum Disorder – Highlights from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth.”
Budget 2022: PHAC is investing over $3.9 million over three years to support the collection of a second cycle of the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY) that will allow for further reporting on the prevalence and characteristics of Autistic Canadian children and youth, as well as the wider impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and information regarding pathway to diagnosis.
CIHR Investments: Over the last five years, CIHR has invested approximately $78 million in research to increase understanding of autism and provide better services and supports to Autistic Canadians and their caregivers. For example, through an investment of $1.1 million over 5 years, CIHR is supporting a research team at McMaster University leading the Pediatric Autism Research Cohort Study, which will follow 1,300 children (ages 2 to 4) with a new Autism diagnosis across 4 provinces: Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia. This will be the world's largest autism cohort study and will create new knowledge on the developmental trajectories of Autistic children, help clinicians develop personalized care plans, and support the development of evidence-based programs and policies.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC):
On October 7, 2022, the Government released Canada’s first Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) which will improve the economic inclusion and quality of life for Canadians with disabilities. The proposed Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), a cornerstone of the Action Plan, was introduced in the House of Commons on June 2, 2022, as Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act. Budget 2023 provided $21.5 million in 2023-24 to continue the necessary groundwork for the CDB. The Action Plan also includes the development of a robust Employment Strategy for persons with disabilities
Employment Support (through the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities Program): Budget 2022 provided $20 million to ESDC’s Ready, Willing and Able project to help Autistic persons or individuals with intellectual disabilities find employment. This is part of a larger commitment to invest an additional $272.6 million over five years, starting in 2022-2023, for the implementation of the Employment Strategy through the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.
Senate Bill S-203 – An Act Respecting a Federal Framework for Autism Spectrum Disorder: On November 24, 2021, the Honourable Leo Housakos introduced Senate Bill S-203, An Act Respecting a Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder. The purpose of the Bill is to bring forth the development of a federal framework to support Autistic Canadians, their families and their 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 federal 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 (the national autism strategy) focused on key priority areas.
Bill Status: The Bill received Royal Assent on March 30, 2023. Officials are developing a plan to support its implementation that will include engagement with key stakeholders, as well as a national conference, as required by the Bill.
Provincial/Territorial Support: All provinces provide autism-specific funding for a range of investments focused on supports, services (including education-based supports for pre-school and school-aged children). While the three territories do not have autism-specific funding, they do have supports for broader disability services, including autism.
Language Note: Within the autism community, preferences around language use (i.e. person-first vs. identity-first) differ. The Government of Canada acknowledges the diverse views of Autistic Canadians, their caregivers and the community as whole. It is encouraged to use an individual’s expressed preferred language whenever possible.

• 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.
• Bill S-203, the Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act received Royal Assent on March 30, 2023.