Ontario mother camps outside premier's constituency office for 6th day to get help for son with autism
For the last six days, Stacy Kennedy has been sleeping in her van outside the Etobicoke office of Premier Doug Ford in an attempt to get help for her son with autism.
"I don't want to do this" Kennedy told CTV News Toronto. "I have no choice. I need to do this."
The Oakville resident is a mother on a mission. She wants someone from the province to help her find the proper supports for her son with autism.
"He's amazing. He's awesome," said Kennedy of her 10-year-old son Sam. "His great loves are Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck right now. He's a neurodiverse kid."
Sam is also a patient at SickKids, with a severe oral aversion and feeding disorder, meaning he cannot eat solid foods. He requires an oral surgery, which will require therapies, something Kennedy has been told she will need to wait for provincial funding to cover.
"This is not a life or death surgery. My son is a classic clinic patient compared to many other families who are in dire life or death situations. However, if my son was neurotypical, he would be having surgery outside of the scope of the pandemic delays. And that is unacceptable"
Frustrated, Kennedy says she's taken her fight to the doorstep of the premier, setting up a chair and sleeping in her red minivan outside the Albion Road constituency office of Doug Ford.
"I put it to paper last week, I mean, a spreadsheet of everywhere I've asked for help. That spreadsheet is eight pages long, single spaced, and includes dozens and dozens of organizations in southern Ontario. I cold call people. I am told no, that's not my job. No, that's not available."
Stacy Kennedy's 10-year-old son Sam is seen in this undated photograph provided to CTV News Toronto.
Kennedy says she wants to see action--starting with something as simple as a phone call.
"I would like someone from this government to call me, my MPP, who's a Progressive Conservative, has my number. The parliamentary assistants have my number. The constituency office has my number. The ministry has my number."
Kennedy says during the past six days, she's received plenty of support from other parents of children with autism, some who've driven hours to bring food or sit with her. She hopes her protest will raise awareness of the situation she and other parents in the province are experiencing.
"I'm here because I've hit every roadblock over four and a half years as.. tens of thousands of families have over the years. But I'm literally at a dead end."
CTV News has reached out to the office of the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services for comment, but so far have not received a response.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.