With only few days left until Election Day in Canada, many of you are asking how the federal parties are addressing the needs of Autistic people and the broader disability community. With so much at stake, it’s important to understand the commitments that could shape our collective future.

On April 2nd, we released our election toolkit that contained 10 practical, community-informed policy solutions that any federal government can adopt to make meaningful progress. We encouraged everyone (e.g. CTV interview on April 2 and April 20)  to explore these ideas to better understand what’s possible when policy is rooted in both evidence and lived experience – meaning it is shaped by the real needs and insights of Autistic people and their families. 

While the Liberal Party of Canada, Conservatives Party of Canada, and New Democratic Party all include broad commitments on health and social care that may support people with disabilities and their families, we have focused on targeted commitments that specifically support autistic people. 

Among the three parties, the Conservative Party has committed to four targeted actions aligned with our policy solutions. Both the Liberal Party and the NDP have each committed to one. The exact wording is placed in the table below. 

One of the most significant recent milestones was the release of Canada’s Autism Strategy, by the Minister of Health in September 2024—developed through engagement with Autistic individuals, families, and experts across the country. While the Liberal Party has not explicitly reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the strategy in its current platform, we remain hopeful that all federal parties will recognize its importance and prioritize its full implementation.

Moving this Strategy from vision to action requires clear leadership, cross-party commitment, and sustained investment—regardless of which party forms government. We will continue to advocate for its adoption, resourcing, and delivery so that Autistic people and their families have access to the timely, inclusive supports they deserve.