LONDON, Ont. – Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory says he would move
quickly to wipe out a backlog of 1,000 autistic children in Ontario who are
waiting for treatment.

Tory says there were only 89 children on the waiting list four years ago when
Premier Dalton McGuinty promised parents he would get their kids the treatment
they needed.

He says the Conservatives would immediately increase spending by $75 million
to help autistic children and their families, and would work with schools to
allow therapists into classrooms.

Tory met with parents of several autistic children in London today, admitting
he knew practically nothing about the disorder until he entered public life.

He credits New Democrat Shelley Martel for leading the charge on autism, and
says he’d be pleased to have her work on the issue for a Conservative
government.

The New Democrats earlier announced a proposal to provide blanket therapy for
all autistic children who need it right in their classrooms.

Parents are upset the province spent $2.4 million over seven years to fight
parents who sued to get treatment for kids over six.

Before July 2005, autism treatment was extended only to children under the
age of six.