Advocating for children and adults with autism

For years under the PCs and the NDP, too many Manitoba children and adults with autism have not been able to get the help they need.  This is a very serious concern.

Children and adults with autism who are helped can often accomplish remarkable things which can help all of us.   When they are not helped, they suffer and our province suffers.

We need to do much better

• For the well-being of those with autism

• For the well-being of all of us

• For the good of our society

On April 2, PACE (the Parents of Autistic Children Everywhere) organized a rally and walk to advocate for improved help for children and adults with autism.   Leading the rally and walk was Mike Wilwand the co-founder of PACE. 

The rally featured Cindy Lamoureux, MLA for Tyndall Park, who has recently introduced Bill 232, The Autism Strategy Act.  This bill requires the province to establish a provincial autism strategy to improve the screening and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and support autism research.  The strategy will identify ongoing supports and services needed by autistic persons and their families and caregivers, and will require annual reports to track the implementation of the measures identified in the strategy.

Bill 232 has recently passed second reading and will be going to committee.  Those interested in presenting at committee stage should call 204-945-3636 to indicate they want to present to the committee when it has its hearings.

Willard Reaves, Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party, attended the rally and walk to support the efforts of the Parents of Autistic Children Everywhere and the efforts of Cindy Lamoureux.  You can see a video of this event at this link – www.manitobaliberals.ca/news

An assessment of the recent budget for the Province of Manitoba

The budget projects total expenditures of $27.318 billion and revenue of $26.820 billion with a deficit of $498 million. Projected expenditures are increased by $1.46 billion from last years’ budget. Revenues are anticipated to increase by $1.755 billion from last year, with the biggest increases in revenue expected from federal transfers which are expected to rise by $1.016 billion and in income taxes which are projected to rise by $300 million compared to last year’s budget. There is serious concern for the credibility of this budget given the performance of the NDP so far, the omission of any funding for the North End Wastewater Treatment plant and an insufficient allocation to deal with forest fires if there is another season like last year.

Major areas of concern in the budget are:

Early learning and child care:

The government failed to meet its commitment to provide 23,000 new child care spaces by March 31, 2026. Only about 5,000 new child care spaces have been provided, with the result that Manitobans looking for child care may have very long wait times (one child care facility reportedly has about 8,000 people on its wait list). The government’s approach to child care has been called “chaotic”.

Health Care:

Though there has been a substantial increase in the health care budget there continue to be major systems problems with very long waits in emergency rooms, too many people harmed or dying from critical incidents, a home care system which has far too many problems, and a long term care system which is understaffed and underfunded. The Manitoba Nurses call the situation a “system failure”. Added to this a provincial preventive health strategy is still lacking.

Education (Primary and Secondary):

There is a lack of a provincial focus on helping children with learning disabilities in spite of the fact that the Manitoba Human Rights Commission called for major changes so Manitoba can comply by the Supreme Court ruling of November 2012.

Environment:

Environmental groups give the NDP budget a ‘near failing grade”Poverty and Homelessness: Manitoba continues to have far too many people experiencing homelessness including too many youth and too many seniors. There is not a coherent plan to address this. There has been no change in Employment and Income assistance either to improve funding or service delivery.

Education (Post secondary):

UMSU is pointing out a lack of support for student housing, a lack of support for tuition relief or non-repayable financial aid, inadequate attention to the too high level of youth unemployment and a failure to fulfil the NDP promise to restore the international student health care coverage.

Crime:

Manitoba continues to have far too much crime, including a Violent Crime Severity Index (below) which is more than double the national average. There is a not an adequate approach provided to reducing crime.

Agriculture:

Manitoba’s farmers are facing dramatic increases in fertilizer prices as a result of the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, yet the provincial government has no plan to help. The result will contribute to an increase in food prices in Manitoba in the months ahead.