Autism Alliance of Canada congratulates the Hon. Mark Carney on a successful campaign to serve as Prime Minister of Canada. Our organization looks forward to working closely in partnership with the newly formed government.
Below is an open letter sent to Prime Minister Carney outlining our hopes for this partnership, and solutions we have identified to build on the momentum established with Bill S203 (An Act respecting a Federal Framework on Autism), the launch of Canada’s Autism Strategy and the recent announcement of the National Autism Network.
We encourage you to share this post on your social media platforms, with friends and family and with your local member of parliament.
May 7, 2025
Subject: Canada Must Deliver on Its Promise to Autistic People – Starting with the Speech from the Throne
Dear Prime Minister Carney,
Congratulations on your election. As you prepare to chart a new course for Canada, we urge you to use your first Speech from the Throne on May 27 to publicly reaffirm your government’s commitment to Canada’s Autism Strategy—and to back it with action.
We write on behalf of Autism Alliance of Canada, the national coalition advancing the rights, well-being, and inclusion of Autistic people and their families. With members spanning every province and territory, we are the country’s largest cross-sector voice on autism policy—uniting researchers, clinicians, self-advocates, families, service providers, and policy leaders.
Your government’s platform made no mention of Autistic Canadians—over one million people—and the millions of family members who support them. This silence sends a worrying signal that their needs are not a priority. At a time when the global conversation on autism is being hijacked by misinformation and harmful rhetoric, Canada must lead with clarity, compassion, and commitment.
In 2024, Canada released its first-ever Autism Strategy, following decades of tireless advocacy. It was a milestone, but it came without the investment, timelines, or accountability required to make it real. Your leadership is now critical to ensure this long-awaited commitment moves beyond symbolic recognition to tangible progress.
Its absence from your party’s election platform raises serious concerns about your government’s commitment to that implementation. Autistic people and their families cannot afford more delay.
Across Canada, Autistic people continue to face unacceptable barriers: long wait times for diagnosis and services, exclusion from classrooms and workplaces, a critical shortage of appropriate housing, and a lack of culturally relevant services. These inequities fall hardest on those with complex needs, low incomes, and intersecting identities.
The Strategy acknowledges these barriers. But without meaningful implementation, it risks becoming yet another government document that gathers dust instead of driving change. Recognition without action is not progress, it’s paralysis.
And this is no longer just a matter of policy—it is a matter of law.
In 2023, Parliament passed the Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder Act (Bill S-203) with unanimous, cross-party support. This legislation mandates:
- Development and implementation of a national autism framework
- Cross-ministerial and intergovernmental collaboration, including with Indigenous governments
- A five-year report tracking progress and identifying gaps
The legislation rightly positions autism as a cross-cutting, whole-of-government issue. Responsibility for delivery now rests with your Cabinet – across Health, Finance, National Revenue, Employment and Social Development, and more. This framework is not aspirational. It is legislated. And your government is now accountable for its delivery.
Autistic people in Canada deserve more than hopeful words. They deserve bold, coordinated action—and to see their government treat autism as the national priority it promised.
We urge you to:
- Affirm your government’s commitment to the Autism Strategy in the May 27th Speech from the Throne
- Back that commitment with timelines, investment, and measurable outcomes
- Ensure implementation is transparent, accountable, and aligned with your legal obligations under Bill S-203
Canada’s Autism Strategy is a rare chance to drive lasting, systemic change. But without leadership and investment, Autistic people will continue to fall through the cracks.
This is your moment to lead with urgency and purpose.
To support this effort, we’ve outlined specific, actionable recommendations aligned with ministerial mandates. These are just a starting point, not a comprehensive plan, but they represent immediate opportunities for impact. A full summary is attached.
Sincerely,
Autism Alliance of Canada
BRIEF: Autism Alliance of Canada: Policy Solutions to Implement Canada’s Autism Strategy: Quick Wins and Federal Actions
Updated May 2025
Autism Alliance of Canada is calling on the federal government to fulfill the intent of Bill S-203 and ensure that the National Autism Strategy becomes a fully funded, accountable, and operational plan.
The following are just a selection of quick wins that demonstrate how immediate, targeted federal action can support Autistic people and their families. These recommendations are not exhaustive. Much more work is needed to build a coordinated, cross-government approach that reflects the diversity and complexity of Canada’s autism community.
Government-Wide Implementation Measures
- Integrate the NAS into ministerial mandate letters, directing departments and agencies to prioritize autism inclusion.
- Allocate dedicated funding to support implementation across health, housing, employment, and social services.
- Establish strong accountability mechanisms, including progress reporting to Parliament and public transparency.
- Engage Autistic individuals and their families throughout implementation to ensure lived experience drives every policy decision.
Cross-Ministerial Recommendations: Selected Quick Wins
1. Minister of Finance & Minister of National Revenue
- Reform the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) to align with a single federal disability status and end unnecessary reassessments for lifelong diagnoses.
- Expand professional eligibility for completing DTC assessments.
2. Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
- Make the Canada Caregiver Credit refundable, supporting low-income families.
- Increase the Child Care Expense Deduction to reflect actual costs of autism-specific care.
3. Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
- Expand and extend the Ready, Willing, and Able Program through 2030.
- Increase the Canada Workers Benefit Disability Supplement to $2,500.
- Continue to invest in Employment Works to ensure consistent, nationwide access to inclusive employment pathways
4. Minister of Health
- Invest $5.5 million annually to train community physicians in autism diagnosis and support to help decrease autism diagnostic wait times.
- Integrate autism care into mainstream healthcare delivery systems.
5. Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
- Build 10,000 new autism-appropriate housing units.
- Mandate autism-informed design in affordable housing and expand the Home Accessibility Tax Credit to include cognitive/sensory needs.
6. Minister of Indigenous Services & Crown–Indigenous Relations
- Co-develop an Indigenous-specific Autism Strategy, led by Indigenous communities, and appoint a federal representative to support this process.
7. Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
- Fund training for 1,000 Autism Support Workers annually, with $9,000/year subsidies to participating colleges.
8. Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities
- Enhance the Canada Disability Benefit using the Market Basket Measure to reflect real living costs.
9. Prime Minister & Privy Council Office
- Enforce accountability under Bill S-203, including measurable goals and public reporting, ensuring the NAS becomes a binding policy tool, not a symbolic gesture.
Below is the PDF version of the open letter and the briefing note, that you can download on your device.