Local MPP and Minister of Childrens, Community and Social Services Todd Smith is under fire from the Ontario Autism Coalition for not following through on promises for improved autism services for children and families in the province.
The Coalition is holding a media event Saturday, and Tuesday had posted a billboard criticizing Smith, at one of Belleville’s busiest intersections.
For unknown reasons the billboard was removed after a few hours.
Smith says improvements in services for an increased number of children are occurring but rolling out the much larger program is a complex task.
“We had to build out the infrastructure which is taking time as well. We had to hire caseworkers, the care coordinators that are doing the assessments of the children.”
Needs based funding and programming was to have been in place by last spring but that has not occurred.
Smith says work is underway to provide more autism support for thousands more children in coming months, adding his government has done more to help children and families than any previous government.
The budget for autism treatment and other supports was more than doubled from $300 to $600 million dollars.
