Marie Bountrogianni, a former Liberal cabinet minister once responsible for autism services, says she will be “extremely objective” in her role as co-chair of a provincial panel advising the Ford government on how to fix Ontario’s ill-fated autism program.

“This is such a challenging file,” Bountrogianni told the Star this week after some parents expressed concern about the make-up of the 20-member panel announced Thursday by Children, Community and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod.

Among their worries was Bountrogianni’s move to limit therapy funding to children under the age of 6 when she was minister more than a decade ago.

“I understand the parents’ angst. When we broke our promise in 2004 (to extend funding to children of all ages) I asked (my advisers) for best practices and programs and they offered their advice,” she said. “I will do the same now but without the inherent ‘limitations’ of being in government.”

In a surprise move, MacLeod included some of her harshest critics on the panel — including parent advocates, clinicians and researchers — which is expected to help the government ensure feedback from recent public consultations are included in its revamped autism program.

MacLeod launched the consultations in April after parent outrage over her plan to clear therapy wait lists by imposing “childhood budgets” based on a child’s age — and not on a clinician’s assessment of need.

Under MacLeod’s controversial plan, annual budgets for therapy were capped at $20,000 for children up to age 7 and $5,000 for older kids up to age 18. But critics argued applied behaviour analysis (ABA) therapy can cost as much as $80,000 a year for children with severe challenges.

When the advisory panel was announced this week, some parents criticized the inclusion of adults with autism who oppose ABA therapy. And critics questioned Bountrogianni’s objectivity, pointing to a 2007 Star story that suggested she regretted her party’s 2003 election promise to extend the costly treatment to all kids who need it.

“Although there are some very strong clinicians, researchers and advocates on the panel, I am disappointed by the complete lack of transparency in the selection process and the apparent stacking of individuals with clear anti-treatment agendas,” said behaviour therapist Louis Busch.

Bountrogianni, a former psychologist, denies she ever opposed the Liberals’ election pledge to ensure all children with autism get the therapy they need.

“I never said the government ‘should not have put the promise in writing,’ ” Bountrogianni said, referring to the earlier Star story. “But it is true that I was extremely frustrated that we could not fulfill the promise.”

Panel member Julie Koudys, of the Ontario Association for Behavioural Analysis, said she hopes her appointment “signals a commitment to maintaining needs-based ABA as an option for families in the new (autism program).”

She also said that “as a researcher I am also hopeful that my appointment signals a commitment to the integration of science into the decision-making process.”

But she knows it won’t be an easy job, adding that “establishing a system that provides sustainable, effective services that meet the needs of all children/youth with (autism) across the province is no small feat. As with any committee tackling complex issues, I anticipate there will be challenges.”

Bountrogianni said she hopes “the panel’s recommendations to the minister will help move this file forward.”

Milton parent Maria Garito noted none of the panel members are connected to the school system that has warned it is ill-equipped to handle children with autism who lose current funding.

Craig Rigden, an adult with autism whose 2-year-old son and 4-year-old stepdaughter also have the developmental disorder, said social media posts by two adults with autism on the panel are also worrisome.

“I have some serious concerns because I have had personal interactions with them over social media and I know them to be anti-science and anti-ABA,” the Windsor father said. “And my concern is that is the reason they have been placed on the panel.”

Panel member Alex Echakowitz, co-founder of Autistics for Autistics Ontario (A4A Ontario), has been critical of ABA therapy. The Seneca College student signed a nondisclosure agreement to be part of the panel and could not comment when contacted by the Star.

Panel co-chair Marg Spoelstra, of Autism Ontario, a parent support agency that voiced concern when the province’s autism revamp was first announced in February, said she is encouraged by the diversity of the panellists “who will bring a wealth of professional and lived experience to the table of our discussions.”

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MacLeod said the panel was chosen so that there was a “diverse set of ideas and views — and I think we achieved that.”

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the Ford government is trying to fix a mess it created.

“This is the kind of panel they should have appointed last summer, and done consultations last fall before they ever announced changes to the autism program,” he said. “It’s a bit too late — but it’s never too late to do the right thing.”