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The announcement Thursday that Quebec would be devoting substantial resources to the early detection and diagnosis of children with special needs is to be applauded. This is government at its best: prioritizing an urgent problem; addressing inequity (not all could afford to pay privately for quicker diagnosis); and having the foresight to take steps that will pay off later, in many ways.

Diagnosis is a prerequisite for early intervention, something that can make all the difference for these children. As Premier François Legault noted, the best time to address such issues is before the age of 6; it is to be hoped, then, that his government will also increase accessibility to the needed services and therapies. Otherwise, early diagnoses will be of limited value.

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Still, this seems like an important step forward, and, at $70 million to $90 million over two years, a wise investment, that will not only pay dividends in human fulfillment, but also in dollars and cents, by increasing the likelihood that these children will grow up to become productive, and taxpaying, members of society.