Autism Alliance of Canada Submitted 2026 Federal Budget Recommendations

Autism Alliance of Canada submitted its 2026 federal pre-budget recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. Our proposed measures continue to champion a coordinated, whole-of-government approach that strengthens Canada’s commitment to Autistic people and builds on the momentum of Canada’s Autism Strategy, released on September 26, 2024.

Autism-related needs intersect with many areas of government responsibility, requiring leadership from multiple departments. A cross-departmental approach ensures that services are responsive to the diverse and lifelong needs of Autistic people, their families, and caregivers. By working together across ministries and agencies, we can shape more inclusive and impactful initiatives to improve quality of life and advance equity for Autistic people across the country.

Over one million people in Canada are Autistic—and when including families, caregivers, and communities, this number represents a significant portion of our society. The government’s commitment to a national autism strategy demonstrates a recognition of the need for a comprehensive, coordinated response. Our submission proposes specific, actionable investments aligned with the federal government’s own priorities—advancing inclusion, economic participation, and well-being for Autistic people and those who support them.

  • Recommendation 1: That the government provide $5 million annually over four years to support the implementation of Canada’s Autism Strategy, with a focus on scaling and spreading evidence-informed programs and practices.
  • Recommendation 2: Expand CMHC’s commitment to accessible and affordable housing by increasing the target for new units dedicated to people with developmental disabilities from 2,075 to 10,000, and modernize program criteria to align with inclusive, community-based housing priorities.
  • Recommendation 3: That the government increases the maximum disability supplement amount of the Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) to $2,500 (from $737). 
  • Recommendation 4: That the government increases the Child Care Expense Deduction (CCED) for children who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) to cover the first $1500 of child care expenses per month. 
  • Recommendation 5: That the government makes the Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC) refundable to provide direct financial support to caregivers of Autistic individuals. 
  • Recommendation 6: That the government creates a dedicated Fund to Train Primary Care Practitioners to Diagnose Autism in children, youth and adults by investing $15M over 3 years in targeted training for community health practitioners. 

How to Share your Recommendations with the Government

To assist you in this advocacy journey, we have created a Pre-Budget Consultation Toolkit. This resource includes our template, guidelines, and tips to support you as you develop your brief. 
Please note that the Pre-Budget 2026 consultation deadline is August 1st, 2025.

  1. Click here to download to the Toolkit. This document explains how to send your submission to the government, step by step.
  2. Click here to read the some ideas you can send out 
  3. Click here to download the blank template
  4. Fill out the blank template
  5. Submit at this link


To guide you furthermore, we have created the following documents: