“We are certainly sorry for the anxiety this has caused the parents across Ontario.”

That’s a quote from Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Todd Smith, admitting Monday that the Doug Ford government made a mistake with their first autism program.

“We took an initial attempt at program re-design,” Smith said. “It’s clear to me that we didn’t get the redesign right the first time and I’m here to tell you that we will now.”

The province is creating a needs-based program, like many parents were calling for after the first plan was announced.

The Autism Advisory Panel will be sifting through results from online surveys, telephone town halls and written submissions while looking at relevant evidence, science and data and will submit its advice by the end of the summer.

“The advisory panel’s expert advice will be critical to ensuring our investments across government, including in Ontario’s health care system, promote and advance a truly child-centred approach,” said Christine Elliott, Minister of Health. “I look forward to receiving their recommendation. In the meantime, we are continuing to listen to families of children and youth with autism and remain fully committed to supporting them through enhanced supports.”

The 20-member panel includes parents of children with autism, clinicians, autism self-advocates, service providers, former public servants and others.

The province also re-announced they’ll be spending $600-million on the program which they say is nearly double what the Liberals were spending.

The new needs-based autism program will then be rolled out by April 2020.

“I have every confidence that together, we will get this right. It’s clear we need to ask the advisory panel to provide us with a broader set of recommendations and advice – and we need to give them the necessary time to do so,” said Smith. “In the interim, we will continue services for families, move more children into service and give our experts the time they need to bring forth their considered recommendations.”

Photo courtesy Ontario Government YouTube