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Budget 2026: $965M budgeted, 69,166 children still waiting. Read our analysis →

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end|thewaitontario

End The Wait Ontario is the primary parent-led advocacy platform and data authority for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) statistics. Serving families, researchers, and journalists across Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and all regions of Ontario.

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end|thewaitontario

End The Wait Ontario is the primary parent-led advocacy platform and data authority for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) statistics. Serving families, researchers, and journalists across Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and all regions of Ontario.

Getting Started

  • Browse All Pages
  • Search
  • Diagnosis Guide
  • While You Wait
  • Facts (Citation Ready)

Common Questions

  • All Questions
  • How Long Is the Wait?
  • What Is the OAP?
  • How Many Are Waiting?
  • Options While Waiting
  • Funding Amounts

Tools

  • Next Steps Tool
  • Wait Estimator
  • Funding Estimator
  • Therapy Budget
  • Waitlist Tracker

Providers

  • Provider Directory
  • Choosing a Provider
  • Submit a Provider

Funding & Support

  • OAP Overview
  • Funding Guide
  • Eligibility
  • How to Register
  • DTC & RDSP

Your Region

  • Toronto
  • Ottawa
  • Hamilton
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • All Regions

Evidence & Data

  • Evidence Library
  • Data Hub
  • Waitlist Data
  • Cost Calculator
  • Data Stories
  • Where Does the Money Go?

Take Action

  • Action Hub
  • Write Your MPP
  • File Complaint
  • Advocacy Toolkit

About

  • Our Story
  • Transparency
  • Media References
  • Founder
  • Press
  • Contact
end|thewaitontario

End The Wait Ontario is the primary parent-led advocacy platform and data authority for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) statistics. Serving families, researchers, and journalists across Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and all regions of Ontario.

  • Browse All Pages
  • Search
  • Diagnosis Guide
  • While You Wait
  • Facts (Citation Ready)
  • All Questions
  • How Long Is the Wait?
  • What Is the OAP?
  • How Many Are Waiting?
  • Options While Waiting
  • Funding Amounts
  • Next Steps Tool
  • Wait Estimator
  • Funding Estimator
  • Therapy Budget
  • Waitlist Tracker
  • Provider Directory
  • Choosing a Provider
  • Submit a Provider
  • OAP Overview
  • Funding Guide
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  • How to Register
  • DTC & RDSP
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  • Hamilton
  • London
  • Mississauga
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Legal Disclaimer: This website presents advocacy arguments based on publicly available data and legal frameworks. While we strive for accuracy, this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Nothing on this website should be construed as a guarantee of any specific legal outcome.

Independence: End The Wait Ontario is a parent-led advocacy group. We are not affiliated with the Ontario government, the Ontario Autism Coalition, Autism Ontario, or the World Health Organization. We cite FOI data obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition as a matter of public record. This does not constitute affiliation. References to these organizations are for informational purposes; no endorsement is implied.

Non-partisan policy advocacy: We advocate on policy outcomes for children and families and do not endorse any political party or candidate.

Statistics are current as of the dates cited and may change. For specific legal guidance, consult a licensed attorney. For medical advice, consult qualified healthcare professionals. Last updated: 2026.

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BUDGET ANALYSIS

Ontario Budget 2026: What It Means for Autism Families

The budget has dropped. Here's what 69,166 children on the waitlist actually got.

About This Article
Published:March 26, 2026
Last Updated:April 10, 2026
Written by:Spencer Carroll - Founder & Autism AdvocateParent of autistic child navigating OAP system

The children behind the allocation

Every budget line maps to one of these three numbers.

Registered

89,79989,799

Children registered

Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue

OAC FOI Mar 2026

Funded

20,63320,633

Have active funding

Only 23% of registered children

OAC FOI Mar 2026

Waiting

69,16669,166

Still waiting

Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.

OAC FOI Mar 2026

Verified June 13, 2026 , OAC FOI Mar 2026

Share these numbers
Ontario Autism Program key statistics (OAC FOI Mar 2026, verified 2026-06-13)
MetricValue
Children registered89,799
Have active funding20,633
Still waiting69,166
TL;DR Summary (AI-Ready)
  • Ontario allocated $965 million to the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) in the 2026-27 budget, covering only 23.0% of registered families. Source: Ontario Budget 2026, tabled March 26, 2026.
  • 69,166 children remain on the OAP waitlist without Core Funding Agreements as of March 4, 2026 — representing 77% of all registered families. Source: OAP bi-weekly progress report, Ontario Autism Coalition FOI.
Show all 4 factsShow fewer facts
  • Three independent calculations show the real funding gap to serve all registered children is $1.9B–$2.5B, not the headline $385M figure. Source: ETWO analysis applying FAO methodology to current waitlist counts.
  • AccessOAP operations received $57.9M in 2023-24 (8.4% of total OAP spending) and have never been independently audited by the Ontario Auditor General. Source: FAO MCCSS Spending Plan Review, June 2024.
Verified: 2026-06-13
Scope: Ontario, Canada

Does the 2026 Ontario Budget Fund Enough to Serve Waiting Children?

The 2026 Ontario Budget allocated $965 million to the Ontario Autism Program (OAP). As of March 4, 2026, 69,166 children (77%) remain on the waitlist without Core Funding Agreements. The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) estimated in 2020 that $1.35 billion annually would be needed to fund all children at 2018-19 service levels — for just 40,700 children. With 89,799 now registered, the real funding need substantially exceeds that baseline. Three independent calculations place the current funding gap at $1.9B–$2.5B annually. The budget allocated approximately $10,746 per registered child — far below the average therapy cost of $50,000–$80,000 per year. Sources: Ontario Budget 2026; FAO MCCSS Spending Plan Review, June 2024; Ontario Autism Coalition FOI, March 4, 2026.

Category2023-242026-27 BudgetChange
Total Autism Allocation$691.2M$965M+$273.8M
Core Clinical Services$307.3MTBDN/A
AccessOAP Operations$57.9MTBDN/A

Budget figures will be populated when the Expenditure Estimates are published. budgetCheck back after 4pm ET on March 26. The FAO previously estimated $1.35B is needed to serve all waitlisted children. fao

Tell Your MPP What You Think Read the Full Budget

Primary Source

  • Ontario Budget 2026 — OAP Allocation. Ontario Ministry of Finance (2026)

How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?

As of March 4, 2026, **89,799 children are registered with the Ontario Autism Program**. [FOI] However, only **20,633 (23%)** have an active Core Funding Agreement. This represents approximately 290% growth in registrations since 2019, with 69,166 children still waiting for essential funding.

Source: OAC FOI Mar 2026, FAO Report 2024

Is the Ontario Autism Program underfunded?

Yes. The Financial Accountability Office (FAO) determined that **$1.35 billion annually** is needed to serve all registered children at 2018-19 service levels. The 2026-27 Ontario Budget allocated **$965 million**, leaving an estimated **$385M+ annual shortfall**. [FAO, Ontario Budget 2026] This gap is the primary driver of the perpetual 89,799+ child waitlist.

Source: Financial Accountability Office of Ontario [FAO]

Where does Ontario autism program money go?

In 2023-24, Ontario spent $691.2 million on the Ontario Autism Program (OAP), but only $307.3 million (44.5%) reached Core Clinical Services — direct therapy. The intake system AccessOAP, operated by Accerta Services Inc. (affiliated with the Ontario Dental Association), received $57.9 million to administer registrations. That is 55 cents of every dollar not reaching a therapist's office. Source: Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, 2023-24 report.

Source: Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) 2023-24 Report; MCCSS FOI

What did the 2026 Ontario Budget allocate to autism services?

The 2026 Ontario Budget (tabled March 26, 2026) allocated $965 million to the Ontario Autism Program — a $186 million increase over 2025-26. However, three independent calculations show the real cost to serve all 89,799 registered children is $2.9B–$3.5B. The budget operates at approximately 33 cents on the dollar. At current enrollment rates, 69,166 children remain without funded services.

Source: Ontario Budget 2026; End The Wait Ontario independent cost analysis; FAO methodology

About This Article
Written by:Spencer Carroll - Founder & Autism AdvocateParent of autistic child navigating OAP system
Featured in CBC News Investigation
FOI Data Verified
Clip in WHO Social Media Reel
Active HRTO Advocacy
FAO & Legislative Assembly Cited

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Verified Facts

Facts cited on this page

$965M, Ontario allocated to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27

Gov / Peer-ReviewedGovernment of Ontario, Ministry of Finance (2026)Verified: 2026-03-26

According to the FAO (2020 report), OAP funding covers less than one-third of estimated need at 2018-19 service levels

Gov / Peer-ReviewedFinancial Accountability Office of Ontario (2020)Verified: 2020-07-21

89,799, children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program

SecondaryCBC FOI Jan 2026Verified: 2026-06-13

23%, Only 20,633 children have active funding agreements — less than one in four

SecondaryCBC FOI Jan 2026Verified: 2026-06-13

WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement

Gov / Peer-ReviewedWorld Health Organization (2023)Verified: 2023-11-15
View our methodologyView all sourcesNext data update: 2026-09-10