New here? Start with our 2-minute guide to OAP registration , no sign-up required.
Voter Resource
With 71,263 children waiting for OAP Core Clinical Services, autism is a significant voter issue in the 2026 Ontario election. This page summarizes publicly available party positions, it is not an endorsement of any party.
Important disclaimer
This page reflects publicly available statements as of April 2026. Parties update platforms frequently, verify current positions directly with each party before making voting decisions. This resource is informational only and does not constitute an endorsement of any party or candidate.
With 91,974 children registered and 71,263 (77.5%) waiting for funded Core Clinical Services (per Ontario Autism Coalition FOI of OAP bi-weekly progress reports, May 13, 2026), the OAP waitlist represents one of Ontario's most significant children's services backlogs.
The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO, 2024) found that current budget levels are insufficient to clear the waitlist at current growth rates. The estimated funding gap is $385M between the FAO 2020 benchmark and the 2026-27 OAP budget (Ontario Budget 2026-27; FAO 2020).
Families of children on the OAP waitlist are concentrated across every Ontario riding. Autism policy is therefore a cross-regional voter issue.
Progressive Conservative (PC)
Premier Doug Ford (governing party)
As the governing party, the PC record on OAP is documented at /policy/ford-autism-promises-tracker. The 2026 election platform had not been published as of April 2026.
Sources: Ontario Budget 2026-27; MCCSS program announcements; ontariopc.ca
Ontario NDP
Marit Stiles, Ontario NDP Leader
Specific bill numbers and Hansard references are available at ola.org. Verify current NDP autism platform at ontariondp.ca.
Sources: Ontario Hansard (ola.org); ontariondp.ca
Ontario Liberal Party
Bonnie Crombie, Ontario Liberal Leader
Specific statements and Hansard references are available at ola.org. Verify current Liberal autism platform at ontarioliberal.ca.
Sources: Ontario Hansard (ola.org); ontarioliberal.ca
Ontario Green Party
Mike Schreiner, Ontario Greens Leader
Verify current Green autism platform at gpo.ca.
Sources: Ontario Hansard (ola.org); gpo.ca
Find your MPP candidate
Search ontario.ca for your electoral district and candidate contact information.
Ask a direct question
Ask each candidate: "What specific steps will you take to reduce the OAP waitlist? What is your party's position on the $385M funding gap identified by the FAO?"
Ontario Autism Coalition voter resources
The OAC provides voter engagement tools and candidate questionnaire responses at ontarioautismcoalition.com.
Attend a candidate event
Candidate debates and town halls are opportunities to raise autism services directly. Bring data: 71,263 children waiting, $385M estimated gap.
As of April 2026, each major party has made public statements on OAP but 2026 election platforms are in progress. The governing PCs have a documented budget and program record. Opposition parties (NDP, Liberals, Greens) have consistently called for expanded funding and waitlist elimination through Hansard statements and press releases. Verify current platforms directly with each party before the election.
The Ontario NDP has made public statements consistent with ending the OAP waitlist as a policy goal, per Hansard records. Other parties have called for increased funding and reform. No party has published a 2026 election platform with a specific, costed commitment to clear the waitlist as of April 2026. Verify with each party directly.
Search Ontario Hansard at ola.org for your MPP's name to find recorded speeches and votes on autism-related bills. You can also contact your MPP's constituency office directly, attend town halls, or email through the Ontario Autism Coalition's advocacy resources at ontarioautismcoalition.com.
The Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC) is the primary provincial advocacy organization for families. The OAC regularly publishes information on party positions and provides voter engagement resources at ontarioautismcoalition.com. This page provides a factual summary of publicly available party statements but is not an endorsement of any party.
Ontario's next fixed election date is June 2026 under the Election Act. Elections can occur earlier if the Legislature is dissolved. Verify the current election schedule at ontario.ca. Families are encouraged to register to vote, engage their local candidates on autism services, and contact the Ontario Autism Coalition for up-to-date voter resources.
Policy Reform
Whether before or after the election, your MPP needs to hear from families affected by autism service gaps.
How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?
VerifiedAs of May 13, 2026, 91,974 children are registered with the Ontario Autism Program. However, only 20,711 (22.5%) have an active Core Funding Agreement. This represents ~300% growth in registrations since 2019, with 71,263 children still waiting for essential funding.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC · Mar 2026, FAO Report 2024 · Verify Link
Evidence on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
According to the FAO (2020 report), OAP funding covers less than one-third of estimated need at 2018-19 service levels
$965M
Ontario allocated $965M to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27
22.5%
Only 20,711 children have active funding agreements (22.5%), less than one in four