I would like to congratulate the parents, politicians and other activists who are here today in support of children and families dealing with autism. They are continuing to fight for the delivery of effective autism treatment in Canada and I share their commitment to this cause.
Autism is a serious neurological disorder but as it stands right now, the most effective treatment is primarily available to those with significant financial resources at their disposal. Sadly, thousands of children sit on waiting lists, despite the fact that early intervention is an essential component of the treatment.
This means that children who could be helped are being left behind, permanently. As a compassionate society that supports universal health care, we need to rectify this long-standing problem.