- Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

The temperature was -13 in Toronto, but that did not deter hundreds and hundreds of parents and therapists of autistic children from taking their concerns to Queens Park today.

Parents from Grey-Bruce joined those from across the province and could be heard inside the Legislature as they protested against the PC government's changes to autism funding. NDP, Green and Liberal MPPs came out to speak with the parents, but Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Lisa MacLeod said she feared for her safety, having received “credible threats” on social media and by phone. Ms. MacLeod also would not make herself available to reporters.

While the plan is to give some financial support to all autistic children including those that are high-functioning based on age and family income, parents of children with very high needs say it is inadequate. Ontario's Principals' Associations have expressed concern that their schools do not have the resources to support these children who have been receiving personalized intensive therapy.

MPP Bill Walker has said this plan will “clear the waitlist”, but parents like Claire, who spoke to the OwenSoundHub about her daughter Elizabeth , argue that the goal is equity - appropriate, evidence-based treatment for all who need it, not simply an arbitrary amount of cash.