Doug Ford agrees to talk with mother of son with autism after a week of camping outside of his office
An Oakville mother says Premier Doug Ford has agreed to sit down and talk with her after she camped outside of his constituency office for a week advocating for more financial support for her autistic son.
Stacy Kennedy has been sitting in her van in the parking lot of Ford’s Etobicoke office since last week in an effort to get the premier to discuss Ontario’s “broken” autism program with her.
Kennedy’s 10-year-old son Sam has been on the province’s autism support waitlist for the past four years to receive essential services.
“I’m devastated that I’ve had to do this. I had no other choice and I’m here until there’s action,” Stacy told CP24 from her van Wednesday night.
“The system is broken and it needs to change,” she added.
Stacy Kennedy's 10-year-old son Sam is seen in this undated photograph provided to CTV News Toronto.
On Wednesday evening, Kenney said Ford finally called her and agreed to have a conversation with the concerned mother.
“I spoke to the Premier around 8 o’clock [Wednesday] evening. It was a conversation with many talking points. Similar to his answer at the press conference when asked about me. ‘Heartbreaking’ was used a lot,” she told CTV News Toronto.
Kennedy said that Ford’s office will schedule a time for them to meet and talk about issues with the government’s new autism program.
He also told Kennedy that Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Merrilee Fullerton will reach out to her on Thursday.
A spokesperson from Minister Fullerton’s office said the minister and ministry are in regular contact with families and advocates to ensure that the program supports the needs of families.
“We are fixing a broken system to ensure that no child is left unsupported. While it would be inappropriate to discuss individual cases, rest assured that the Minister has directed her ministry to work with all families who need support,” the spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ford was asked about Kennedy’s advocacy efforts during a press conference and said he was willing to talk with her.
“My heart breaks for Stacy and all families with autisic children. Stacy did talk, she’s from Oakville, she did talk to her MPP out there and my office talked to her but I have no problem talking to Stacy as I do talking to hundreds and hundreds of people on a weekly basis,” Ford said.
Kennedy said the government needs to act now in order to support the thousands of families that are currently on a waitlist to receive help for their autistic children.
“I’m afraid the premier is out of touch to the barriers that families still face. The waitlist has gone from 23,000 to just under 50,000 children and it’s absolutely scandalous,” she said.
Stacy Kennedy (Left), chats with a supporter outside of Premier Doug Ford’s constituency office. (Scott Lightfoot/CTV News Toronto)
Last year, the Ford government rolled out its new autism program after scrapping one in 2019 following backlash because it capped funding at amounts families said would be too small for many, and made it based on age rather than needs.
As part of the new program, this spring the government started enrolling children in core clinical services, with about 470 participating as of late July.
As of Apr. 1, 2021, the government also provided one-time childhood budgets of either $5,000 or $20,000, based on a child’s age for families to purchase eligible services and supports.
Kennedy says the new program isn’t good enough and that she won’t stop camping out at Ford’s office until she speaks with the government about next steps to support autisic children.
“I want to get a phone call and I want someone to say ‘Stacy, we made a mistake. We realize your son should be getting meaningful funding in a timely fashion.’ That’s what I want, that’s what every family in Ontario deserves,” she said.
--With files from CTV News Toronto's Scott Lightfoot and The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.