{
  "dataset": "Verified facts registry with sources",
  "description": "Fact-to-source registry: each citable claim mapped to its verified source record (publisher, date, URL, verification flag). Built for LLM citation pipelines.",
  "publisher": "End The Wait Ontario",
  "publisherUrl": "https://www.endthewaitontario.com",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "sourceOfTruth": "lib/citations.ts",
  "statsSsotLastVerified": "2026-08-10",
  "facts": [
    {
      "id": "waitlist-size",
      "text": "91,974 children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program",
      "sourceId": "cbc-2026-brockbank",
      "context": "As of January 7, 2026 (OAP bi-weekly progress report obtained via FOI by CBC News)"
    },
    {
      "id": "enrollment-rate",
      "text": "Only 20,711 children have active funding agreements (22.5%), less than one in four",
      "sourceId": "cbc-2026-brockbank",
      "context": "Leaving 71,263 children without a Core Funding Agreement. CBC reviewed 18 months of bi-weekly progress reports showing the funded percentage has yet to crack 25%."
    },
    {
      "id": "opseu-waitlist-dec-2025",
      "text": "OPSEU/SEFPO’s “Open the books. Fund our services.” report referenced approximately 67,509 children waiting for Ontario Autism Program core services as of January 7, 2026, drawing on Ontario Autism Coalition and End The Wait Ontario data",
      "sourceId": "opseu-wff-2026",
      "context": "A point-in-time figure reported by OPSEU as of January 7, 2026 (CBC / MCCSS FOI via OAC date). For the current registered/funded/waiting counts, see lib/data/waitlist-stats.ts."
    },
    {
      "id": "cbc-registration-surge",
      "text": "OAP registrations jumped 21% since mid-2024, with the number of funded children dipping in some periods despite hundreds more registering",
      "sourceId": "cbc-2026-brockbank",
      "context": "CBC obtained 18 months of bi-weekly progress reports via FOI. In one period, funded children dropped by 151 while 456 new children registered."
    },
    {
      "id": "wait-time",
      "text": "Ontario Autism Coalition community intake (July 2026) shows OAP invitations reaching families who registered around August 2021, indicating multi-year (5+ year) waits for funded autism services in Ontario",
      "sourceId": "foi-2025-primary",
      "context": "Use page-level sourcing for any specific wait range or regional estimate."
    },
    {
      "id": "early-intervention",
      "text": "Early intervention is critical for optimal developmental outcomes; research supports intensive therapy beginning as soon as possible after diagnosis",
      "sourceId": "reichow-2018"
    },
    {
      "id": "interim-cutoff",
      "text": "Interim funding only available for registrations before April 1, 2021",
      "sourceId": "oap-policy"
    },
    {
      "id": "lifetime-cost",
      "text": "Lifetime support costs for autism with co-occurring intellectual disability can reach US$2.4 million per person (Buescher et al.)",
      "sourceId": "jama-2014",
      "context": "US figure; costs vary by support needs and co-occurring conditions"
    },
    {
      "id": "funding-gap",
      "text": "According to the FAO (2020 report), OAP funding covers less than one-third of estimated need at 2018-19 service levels",
      "sourceId": "fao-2021",
      "context": "Based on FAO 2020 projection at 2018-19 service levels (~40,700 children). The current cohort is 91,974 and the budget is $965M. An updated cost estimate has not been published."
    },
    {
      "id": "budget-allocation",
      "text": "Ontario allocated $965M to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27",
      "sourceId": "ontario-budget-2026",
      "context": "The 2026 Ontario Budget (tabled March 26, 2026) set OAP funding at $965M for 2026-27, up from $779M in 2025-26."
    },
    {
      "id": "prevalence-rate",
      "text": "According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis",
      "sourceId": "statscan-2021"
    },
    {
      "id": "who-early-intervention",
      "text": "WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism. Timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement",
      "sourceId": "who-2023"
    },
    {
      "id": "esdm-evidence",
      "text": "Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) delivered to children aged 18–30 months produced significant gains in IQ, adaptive behaviour, and autism severity — some children no longer met diagnostic criteria at follow-up",
      "sourceId": "dawson-2010",
      "context": "Randomized controlled trial published in Pediatrics (2010)"
    },
    {
      "id": "eibi-cochrane",
      "text": "Cochrane systematic review finds evidence that early intensive behavioural intervention (EIBI) may produce positive effects on adaptive behaviour and communication for young children with ASD (low certainty of evidence)",
      "sourceId": "reichow-2018"
    },
    {
      "id": "education-rights",
      "text": "Under the Ontario Education Act, every student with special needs is entitled to an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and access to an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)",
      "sourceId": "education-act-ontario"
    },
    {
      "id": "diagnosis-screening",
      "text": "Evidence supports autism screening and intervention commencing in the first 2 years of life — earlier identification directly enables earlier intervention during the highest neural plasticity window",
      "sourceId": "zwaigenbaum-2015"
    },
    {
      "id": "diagnostic-wait-hidden",
      "text": "Ontario does not publish a province-wide diagnostic waitlist count; Trillium Health Partners reported 6,113 children waiting at 5 diagnostic hubs via FOI in March 2024",
      "sourceId": "trillium-2024",
      "context": "Province-wide total is not tracked centrally"
    },
    {
      "id": "prevalence-ontario-2025",
      "text": "A 2025 Frontiers study found a 2.1% autism prevalence rate among children in Ontario",
      "sourceId": "frontiers-2025",
      "context": "Higher than the PHAC national estimate of approximately 1 in 50 (2%)"
    },
    {
      "id": "admin-overhead",
      "text": "According to a Healthy Debate analysis, a significant portion of Ontario Autism Program spending goes to administration, operations, and non-clinical services rather than direct therapy funding",
      "sourceId": "healthy-debate-2025",
      "context": "Healthy Debate reported ~32% using a broad categorization. By the MCCSS line items obtained via FOI by The Trillium (July 2024), AccessOAP operations alone cost $57.9M of the $691.2M program total (8.4%). The discrepancy reflects different definitions of \"administration.\" Use FAO line items for precision."
    },
    {
      "id": "ag-never-audited-accessoap",
      "text": "The Auditor General of Ontario's only value-for-money audit of autism services was tabled in 2013 — before the 2019–20 needs-based OAP redesign and before AccessOAP was established in 2021",
      "sourceId": "oag-2013-autism",
      "context": "A 2015 follow-up (Section 4.01) checked the status of the 2013 audit's recommendations but was not itself a new value-for-money audit."
    },
    {
      "id": "capacity-ceiling",
      "text": "Ontario autism program capacity limits services to roughly 20,000 children at any given time",
      "sourceId": "cbc-sep-2024-bottleneck",
      "context": "Ministry-reported service ceiling"
    },
    {
      "id": "hansard-family-testimony",
      "text": "Families testified before the Standing Committee on Social Policy about multi-year waitlist impacts on children with autism",
      "sourceId": "hansard-social-policy-2024",
      "context": "Parliamentary record of direct family advocacy to legislators"
    },
    {
      "id": "hansard-opposition-questions",
      "text": "Opposition members raised questions in the Legislative Assembly about the gap between autism service demand and provincial funding capacity",
      "sourceId": "hansard-question-period-2024",
      "context": "Official Hansard record of Question Period debate"
    },
    {
      "id": "audit-undocumented-placement",
      "text": "65% of placement decisions for students with special education needs reviewed by the Auditor General contained no written rationale at all",
      "sourceId": "oag-2026-spec-ed",
      "context": "Ontario Auditor General Special Report on Special Education Needs, May 12, 2026 — files sampled across TCDSB, PDSB, and UCDSB. Where a rationale existed, 59% only named the diagnosis."
    },
    {
      "id": "audit-suspension-disparity",
      "text": "Students with special education needs account for 16% of Ontario enrolment but 43% of suspensions — and 48% are suspended more than once",
      "sourceId": "oag-2026-spec-ed",
      "context": "Auditor General of Ontario, May 2026 — five-year suspension data 2019/20–2023/24. Compares with 21% multiple-suspension rate among other students."
    },
    {
      "id": "audit-ea-unfilled",
      "text": "Educational Assistants were absent on an average of 18% of school days in 2023/24, and between 49% and 72% of those absences went unfilled at sampled boards",
      "sourceId": "oag-2026-spec-ed",
      "context": "Auditor General of Ontario, May 2026. Unfilled rate by board: TCDSB 72%, PDSB 49%, UCDSB ~60%."
    },
    {
      "id": "audit-spending-overrun",
      "text": "46 of Ontario's 72 school boards collectively spent $397.9M (14%) more than the Ministry funded for special education in 2023/24",
      "sourceId": "oag-2026-spec-ed",
      "context": "Auditor General of Ontario, May 2026. Per-student spending rose 21% over five years against 17% funding growth."
    },
    {
      "id": "audit-iep-unmeasurable",
      "text": "At every audited board, at least 90% of annual learning goals in Individual Education Plans lacked measurable criteria",
      "sourceId": "oag-2026-spec-ed",
      "context": "Auditor General of Ontario, May 2026. Modified expectations lacked measurable criteria 94%+ of the time at every board."
    },
    {
      "id": "audit-ministry-disagreed",
      "text": "The Ministry of Education agreed with 13 of the Auditor General's 15 recommendations and explicitly disagreed with 2",
      "sourceId": "oag-2026-spec-ed",
      "context": "The two disagreed-with recommendations were #3 (consistent identification criteria) and #6 (assessment waitlist tracking)."
    },
    {
      "id": "accerta-oda-parent",
      "text": "AccertaClaim Servicorp Inc. — the federal corporate parent of Accerta Services Inc., which leads the AccessOAP consortium — lists the Ontario Dental Association as its own Parent Company",
      "sourceId": "lobbycanada-accerta-oda-2022",
      "context": "Federal Lobbying Act registration (Registration Number 948040-372174) discloses \"Parent Company Information: Ontario Dental Association\" for AccertaClaim Servicorp Inc. (Accerta). Corroborated by Dun & Bradstreet's business directory listing for the same entity, though D&B's corporate-family detail is paywalled."
    }
  ],
  "sources": {
    "fao-2024": {
      "id": "fao-2024",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan Review",
      "author": "Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO)",
      "date": "2024-06-05",
      "url": "https://fao-on.org/en/report/fa2305-mccss/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "oag-2013-autism": {
      "id": "oag-2013-autism",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "2013 Annual Report, Value-for-Money Section 3.01: Autism Services and Supports for Children",
      "author": "Office of the Auditor General of Ontario",
      "publisher": "Government of Ontario",
      "date": "2013-12-01",
      "url": "https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en13/301en13.pdf",
      "verified": true
    },
    "oag-2015-autism-followup": {
      "id": "oag-2015-autism-followup",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "2015 Annual Report, Chapter 4 Follow-Up Section 4.01: Autism Services and Supports for Children",
      "author": "Office of the Auditor General of Ontario",
      "publisher": "Government of Ontario",
      "date": "2015-12-01",
      "url": "https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en15/4.01en15.pdf",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ipc-po-4494": {
      "id": "ipc-po-4494",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Order PO-4494 (Appeal PA22-00391)",
      "author": "Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC)",
      "date": "2024-03-04",
      "url": "https://decisions.ipc.on.ca/ipc-cipvp/orders/en/item/521604/index.do",
      "verified": true
    },
    "fao-2021": {
      "id": "fao-2021",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "Autism Services",
      "author": "Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO)",
      "date": "2020-07-21",
      "url": "https://fao-on.org/en/report/autism-services-2020/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "who-2023": {
      "id": "who-2023",
      "type": "official",
      "title": "Autism Spectrum Disorders Fact Sheet",
      "author": "World Health Organization (WHO)",
      "date": "2023-11-15",
      "url": "https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/autism-spectrum-disorders",
      "verified": true
    },
    "oap-policy": {
      "id": "oap-policy",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Ontario Autism Program: Interim one-time funding",
      "author": "Government of Ontario",
      "date": "2024-01-01",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-autism-program-interim-one-time-funding",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ontario-oap-core-clinical-2026": {
      "id": "ontario-oap-core-clinical-2026",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Ontario Autism Program guidelines for Core Clinical Services and supports",
      "author": "Government of Ontario",
      "publisher": "Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services",
      "date": "2026-08-12",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-autism-program-guidelines-core-clinical-services-and-supports",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ontario-ssah-2026": {
      "id": "ontario-ssah-2026",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Special Services at Home",
      "author": "Government of Ontario",
      "publisher": "Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services",
      "date": "2026-04-01",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/page/special-services-home",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ontario-acsd-2026": {
      "id": "ontario-acsd-2026",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities Program",
      "author": "Government of Ontario",
      "publisher": "Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services",
      "date": "2026-06-30",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/page/assistance-children-severe-disabilities-program",
      "verified": true
    },
    "autism-ontario-summer-support-2026": {
      "id": "autism-ontario-summer-support-2026",
      "type": "official",
      "title": "One-to-One Summer Support Worker Reimbursement Fund",
      "author": "Autism Ontario",
      "date": "2026-08-12",
      "url": "https://www.autismontario.com/camp",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ontario-autism-diagnosis-2026": {
      "id": "ontario-autism-diagnosis-2026",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Autism assessment and diagnosis",
      "author": "Government of Ontario",
      "publisher": "Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services",
      "date": "2026-08-12",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/page/autism-assessment-diagnosis",
      "verified": true
    },
    "jama-2017": {
      "id": "jama-2017",
      "type": "academic",
      "title": "Cost Offset Associated With Early Start Denver Model for Children With Autism",
      "author": "Cidav et al. (JAACAP)",
      "date": "2017-09-01",
      "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28838582/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "jama-2014": {
      "id": "jama-2014",
      "type": "academic",
      "title": "Costs of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the United Kingdom and the United States",
      "author": "Buescher et al. (JAMA Pediatrics)",
      "date": "2014-08-01",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.210",
      "verified": true
    },
    "foi-2025-global-news": {
      "id": "foi-2025-global-news",
      "type": "news",
      "title": "Ontario registry for autism program hits new record high",
      "author": "Global News / Canadian Press",
      "date": "2025-10-30",
      "verified": true
    },
    "foi-2025-primary": {
      "id": "foi-2025-primary",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 13, 2026 (MCCSS, released under Freedom of Information to the Ontario Autism Coalition; published in the OAC \"OAP At A Glance\" update, July 2026)",
      "author": "Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario), obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition",
      "date": "2026-05-13",
      "url": "https://www.endthewaitontario.com/data-hub",
      "verified": true
    },
    "foi-2026-mccss-mar": {
      "id": "foi-2026-mccss-mar",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "MCCSS bi-weekly OAP Core Clinical Services progress reports (FOI release CSS2026-0749)",
      "author": "Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario), obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition",
      "date": "2026-03-04",
      "url": "https://www.endthewaitontario.com/data-hub",
      "verified": true
    },
    "canada-cdb-official": {
      "id": "canada-cdb-official",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Canada Disability Benefit",
      "author": "Government of Canada",
      "date": "2025-06-20",
      "url": "https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/disability/canada-disability-benefit.html",
      "verified": true
    },
    "canada-cdb-amounts": {
      "id": "canada-cdb-amounts",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Canada Disability Benefit - How much you could receive",
      "author": "Government of Canada",
      "date": "2025-06-20",
      "url": "https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/disability/canada-disability-benefit/amount.html",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ontario-cdb-exemption": {
      "id": "ontario-cdb-exemption",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Ontario Supporting Recipients of Disability Benefits",
      "author": "Government of Ontario",
      "date": "2025-05-30",
      "url": "https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1005959/ontario-supporting-recipients-of-disability-benefits",
      "verified": true
    },
    "disability-alliance-cdb": {
      "id": "disability-alliance-cdb",
      "type": "news",
      "title": "DABC Community Update: Applications for the Canada Disability Benefit",
      "author": "Disability Alliance BC",
      "date": "2025-06-20",
      "url": "https://disabilityalliancebc.org/dabc-community-update-applications-for-the-canada-disability-benefit-will-open-on-june-20-2025",
      "verified": true
    },
    "autism-ontario-cdb": {
      "id": "autism-ontario-cdb",
      "type": "news",
      "title": "Canada Disability Benefit Regulations",
      "author": "Autism Ontario",
      "date": "2025-06-20",
      "url": "https://www.autismontario.com/news/canada-disability-benefit-regulations",
      "verified": true
    },
    "reichow-2018": {
      "id": "reichow-2018",
      "type": "academic",
      "title": "Early intensive behavioural intervention (EIBI) for young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)",
      "author": "Reichow B, Hume K, Barton EE, Boyd BA (Cochrane Systematic Review)",
      "date": "2018-05-09",
      "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29742275/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "dawson-2010": {
      "id": "dawson-2010",
      "type": "academic",
      "title": "Randomized, Controlled Trial of an Intervention for Toddlers With Autism: The Early Start Denver Model",
      "author": "Dawson G, Rogers S, Munson J, et al. (Pediatrics)",
      "date": "2010-01-01",
      "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19948568/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "zwaigenbaum-2015": {
      "id": "zwaigenbaum-2015",
      "type": "academic",
      "title": "Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Recommendations for Practice and Research",
      "author": "Zwaigenbaum L, Bauman ML, Stone WL, et al. (Pediatrics)",
      "date": "2015-10-01",
      "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26430168/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ohrc-2016": {
      "id": "ohrc-2016",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "A Better Way Forward: Ontario's 3-Year Anti-Racism Strategic Plan — Autism as a Disability Rights Issue",
      "author": "Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)",
      "date": "2016-03-01",
      "url": "https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-ableism-and-discrimination-based-disability",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ontario-budget-2025": {
      "id": "ontario-budget-2025",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "2025 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review (Fall Economic Statement)",
      "author": "Government of Ontario, Ministry of Finance",
      "date": "2025-10-30",
      "url": "https://budget.ontario.ca/2025/fallstatement/index.html",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ontario-budget-2026": {
      "id": "ontario-budget-2026",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "2026 Ontario Budget — Building Ontario",
      "author": "Government of Ontario, Ministry of Finance",
      "date": "2026-03-26",
      "url": "https://budget.ontario.ca/2026/index.html",
      "verified": true
    },
    "trillium-2026-budget": {
      "id": "trillium-2026-budget",
      "type": "news",
      "title": "Advocacy group calls for new autism program funding to go 'exclusively' to core therapies",
      "author": "Sneh Duggal",
      "publisher": "The Trillium",
      "date": "2026-03-27",
      "url": "https://www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news/social-services-and-society/advocacy-group-calls-for-new-autism-program-funding-to-go-exclusively-to-core-therapies-10749206",
      "verified": true
    },
    "cbc-radio-2026-ottawa-morning": {
      "id": "cbc-radio-2026-ottawa-morning",
      "type": "news",
      "title": "Ottawa boy one of 67,500 Ontario kids waiting for core supports",
      "author": "CBC Ottawa Morning",
      "publisher": "CBC Radio One",
      "date": "2026-03-31",
      "url": "https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-100-ottawa-morning/clip/16206201-ottawa-boy-one-67500-ontario-kids-waiting-core",
      "verified": true
    },
    "cbc-2026-brockbank": {
      "id": "cbc-2026-brockbank",
      "type": "news",
      "title": "More than 67,500 Ontario kids waiting for core autism funding as demand grows",
      "author": "Nicole Brockbank & Angelina King",
      "publisher": "CBC News",
      "date": "2026-03-30",
      "url": "https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/autism-services-funding-ontario-9.7143531",
      "verified": true
    },
    "opseu-wff-2026": {
      "id": "opseu-wff-2026",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "Open the books. Fund our services.",
      "author": "Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO)",
      "publisher": "OPSEU/SEFPO",
      "date": "2026-06-03",
      "url": "https://opseu.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-05-WFF-report-d.pdf",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ccrw-neurodiversity": {
      "id": "ccrw-neurodiversity",
      "type": "official",
      "title": "Disability and Work Topics 101 Diverse Minds: Neurodiversity in the Workplace",
      "author": "Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW)",
      "publisher": "CCRW",
      "date": "2026-04-30",
      "url": "https://ccrw.org/neurodiversity-in-the-workplace/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "statscan-2021": {
      "id": "statscan-2021",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Autism spectrum disorder among children and youth in Canada 2019",
      "author": "Public Health Agency of Canada",
      "date": "2024-03-26",
      "url": "https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder-canadian-health-survey-children-youth-2019.html",
      "verified": true
    },
    "education-act-ontario": {
      "id": "education-act-ontario",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Ontario Education Act — Special Education Requirements (IPRC, IEP)",
      "author": "Government of Ontario",
      "date": "2024-01-01",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90e02",
      "verified": true
    },
    "trillium-2024": {
      "id": "trillium-2024",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "Diagnostic Hub Waitlist Data — FOI Response (Trillium Health Partners hospital system, not The Trillium newspaper)",
      "author": "Trillium Health Partners (hospital)",
      "date": "2024-03-15",
      "url": "https://www.trilliumhealthpartners.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "frontiers-2025": {
      "id": "frontiers-2025",
      "type": "academic",
      "title": "Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Ontario, Canada",
      "author": "Frontiers in Psychiatry (2025)",
      "date": "2025-01-15",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry",
      "verified": true
    },
    "healthy-debate-2025": {
      "id": "healthy-debate-2025",
      "type": "news",
      "title": "Where Does Ontario Autism Program Funding Actually Go?",
      "author": "Healthy Debate",
      "date": "2025-02-10",
      "url": "https://healthydebate.ca/2025/03/topic/ontario-autism-children-waiting/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "cbc-sep-2024-bottleneck": {
      "id": "cbc-sep-2024-bottleneck",
      "type": "news",
      "title": "Ontario autism program capacity ceiling limits services to roughly 20,000 children",
      "author": "CBC News",
      "date": "2024-09-15",
      "url": "https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-autism-program-waitlist-services-1.7319778",
      "verified": true
    },
    "balance-hamilton-2025": {
      "id": "balance-hamilton-2025",
      "type": "news",
      "title": "Discharged and Re-Waitlisted: Ontario Autism Program Cycle",
      "author": "The Hamilton Spectator / Balance",
      "date": "2025-01-20",
      "url": "https://www.thespec.com/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "hansard-social-policy-2024": {
      "id": "hansard-social-policy-2024",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Hansard Transcripts, Standing Committee on Social Policy — Testimony on OAP Waitlist From Affected Families",
      "author": "Ontario Legislative Assembly",
      "date": "2024-03-15",
      "url": "https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/committees/social-policy/parliament-43",
      "verified": true
    },
    "hansard-question-period-2024": {
      "id": "hansard-question-period-2024",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Question Period — Opposition Questions on Autism Service Funding and Waitlist Crisis",
      "author": "Ontario Legislative Assembly",
      "date": "2024-04-10",
      "url": "https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/hansard-search",
      "verified": true
    },
    "hansard-estimates-2024": {
      "id": "hansard-estimates-2024",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Committee of Supply — Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services Estimates Debate on OAP Capacity",
      "author": "Ontario Legislative Assembly",
      "date": "2024-05-22",
      "url": "https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/hansard-search",
      "verified": true
    },
    "oag-2026-spec-ed": {
      "id": "oag-2026-spec-ed",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "Special Report: Special Education Needs",
      "author": "Office of the Auditor General of Ontario",
      "publisher": "Government of Ontario",
      "date": "2026-05-12",
      "url": "https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/specialreports/specialaudits/en2026/Ar_2026_SpecEd_EN.html",
      "verified": true
    },
    "etfo-2024-inclusion": {
      "id": "etfo-2024-inclusion",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "Inclusion Without Proper Support Is Abandonment",
      "author": "Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario",
      "publisher": "ETFO",
      "date": "2024-06-01",
      "url": "https://www.etfo.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "oac-2024-school-survey": {
      "id": "oac-2024-school-survey",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "School Experience Survey — Families of Students With Autism Across 60 Ontario Boards",
      "author": "Ontario Autism Coalition",
      "date": "2024-11-15",
      "url": "https://ontarioautismcoalition.com/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "osbcu-2024-violence": {
      "id": "osbcu-2024-violence",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "Violent and Disruptive Incidents Survey — Educational Assistants and Child & Youth Workers",
      "author": "Ontario School Board Council of Unions",
      "date": "2024-09-15",
      "url": "https://cupe.ca/news/survey-ontario-education-workers-finds-extreme-underfunding-and-understaffing-has-caused",
      "verified": true
    },
    "community-living-ontario-2023": {
      "id": "community-living-ontario-2023",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "Exclusion of Students With Disabilities — 2023 Survey",
      "author": "Community Living Ontario",
      "date": "2023-10-01",
      "url": "https://communitylivingontario.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "people-for-education-2024": {
      "id": "people-for-education-2024",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "Annual Ontario School Survey — Special Education",
      "author": "People for Education",
      "date": "2024-05-01",
      "url": "https://peopleforeducation.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "on-reg-181-98": {
      "id": "on-reg-181-98",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Ontario Regulation 181/98 — Identification and Placement of Exceptional Pupils",
      "author": "Government of Ontario",
      "publisher": "e-Laws",
      "date": "1998-04-01",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/980181",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ppm-145": {
      "id": "ppm-145",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Policy/Program Memorandum 145 — Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour",
      "author": "Ontario Ministry of Education",
      "date": "2018-12-19",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/document/education-ontario-policy-and-program-direction/policyprogram-memorandum-145",
      "verified": true
    },
    "human-rights-code-ontario": {
      "id": "human-rights-code-ontario",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19",
      "author": "Government of Ontario",
      "publisher": "e-Laws",
      "date": "1990-01-01",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h19",
      "verified": true
    },
    "on-reg-472-07": {
      "id": "on-reg-472-07",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Ontario Regulation 472/07 — Behaviour, Discipline and Safety of Pupils (mitigating and other factors)",
      "author": "Government of Ontario",
      "publisher": "e-Laws",
      "date": "2008-02-01",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/070472",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ppm-140": {
      "id": "ppm-140",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Policy/Program Memorandum 140 — Incorporating Methods of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) into Programs for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders",
      "author": "Ontario Ministry of Education",
      "date": "2007-05-17",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/document/education-ontario-policy-and-program-direction/policyprogram-memorandum-140",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ombudsman-ontario-school-boards": {
      "id": "ombudsman-ontario-school-boards",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Ombudsman Ontario — School Boards (jurisdiction since September 1, 2015)",
      "author": "Ombudsman Ontario",
      "date": "2015-09-01",
      "url": "https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/en/info-public-bodies-and-officials/school-boards",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ombudsman-ontario-general": {
      "id": "ombudsman-ontario-general",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Ombudsman Ontario — What We Do (oversight of provincial government and public-sector bodies)",
      "author": "Ombudsman Ontario",
      "date": "2026-07-04",
      "url": "https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/what-we-do",
      "verified": true
    },
    "hrto-application-process": {
      "id": "hrto-application-process",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario — Application and Hearing Process",
      "author": "Tribunals Ontario",
      "date": "2026-07-04",
      "url": "https://tribunalsontario.ca/hrto/application-and-hearing-process/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "oset-tribunals-ontario": {
      "id": "oset-tribunals-ontario",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Ontario Special Education Tribunal (OSET) — Tribunals Ontario",
      "author": "Tribunals Ontario",
      "date": "2026-07-04",
      "url": "https://tribunalsontario.ca/oset/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ohrc-accessible-education-2018": {
      "id": "ohrc-accessible-education-2018",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Policy on Accessible Education for Students with Disabilities",
      "author": "Ontario Human Rights Commission",
      "date": "2018-03-01",
      "url": "https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-accessible-education-students-disabilities",
      "verified": true
    },
    "osr-guideline-2000": {
      "id": "osr-guideline-2000",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Ontario Student Record (OSR) Guideline, 2000",
      "author": "Ontario Ministry of Education",
      "date": "2000-04-01",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-student-record-osr-guideline",
      "verified": true
    },
    "mfippa": {
      "id": "mfippa",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act",
      "author": "Government of Ontario",
      "date": "1990-01-01",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90m56",
      "verified": true
    },
    "moore-v-bc-2012": {
      "id": "moore-v-bc-2012",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Moore v. British Columbia (Education), 2012 SCC 61",
      "author": "Supreme Court of Canada",
      "date": "2012-11-09",
      "url": "https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/12680/index.do",
      "verified": true
    },
    "adler-v-ontario-1996": {
      "id": "adler-v-ontario-1996",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Adler v. Ontario, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 609",
      "author": "Supreme Court of Canada",
      "date": "1996-11-21",
      "url": "https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1996/1996canlii148/1996canlii148.html",
      "verified": true
    },
    "waldman-v-canada-1999": {
      "id": "waldman-v-canada-1999",
      "type": "official",
      "title": "Waldman v. Canada, Communication No. 694/1996, UN Doc. CCPR/C/67/D/694/1996",
      "author": "United Nations Human Rights Committee",
      "date": "1999-11-05",
      "url": "https://hrlibrary.umn.edu/undocs/session67/view694.htm",
      "verified": true
    },
    "your-health-act-2023": {
      "id": "your-health-act-2023",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Your Health Act, 2023 (Bill 60) — Providing More Connected Care for Ontarians",
      "author": "Legislative Assembly of Ontario",
      "date": "2023-05-18",
      "url": "https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-43/session-1/bill-60",
      "verified": true
    },
    "bill-124-restraint-2019": {
      "id": "bill-124-restraint-2019",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019 (Bill 124)",
      "author": "Legislative Assembly of Ontario",
      "date": "2019-11-07",
      "url": "https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-124",
      "verified": true
    },
    "ohc-private-clinics-2024": {
      "id": "ohc-private-clinics-2024",
      "type": "report",
      "title": "For-Profit Private Hospitals and Clinics: Investigation and Cost Analysis",
      "author": "Ontario Health Coalition",
      "date": "2024-10-01",
      "url": "https://www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "oag-greenbelt-2023": {
      "id": "oag-greenbelt-2023",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Special Report on Changes to the Greenbelt",
      "author": "Office of the Auditor General of Ontario",
      "date": "2023-08-09",
      "url": "https://www.auditor.on.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "integrity-commissioner-greenbelt-2023": {
      "id": "integrity-commissioner-greenbelt-2023",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Report Re: The Honourable Steve Clark, Inquiry on Greenbelt Land Removals",
      "author": "J. David Wake, Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario",
      "date": "2023-08-30",
      "url": "https://www.oico.on.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "oag-ontario-place-2024": {
      "id": "oag-ontario-place-2024",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Value-for-Money Audit: Ontario Place Redevelopment",
      "author": "Office of the Auditor General of Ontario",
      "date": "2024-12-03",
      "url": "https://www.auditor.on.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "cbc-therme-deal-2024": {
      "id": "cbc-therme-deal-2024",
      "type": "news",
      "title": "Ontario Place redevelopment: 95-year lease to Therme Group",
      "author": "CBC News",
      "date": "2024-04-02",
      "url": "https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/therme-lease-details-1.7341585",
      "verified": true
    },
    "hwy-407-etr-concession-1999": {
      "id": "hwy-407-etr-concession-1999",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Highway 407 ETR Concession and Ground Lease Agreement (99-year lease)",
      "author": "Province of Ontario / 407 ETR Concession Company",
      "date": "1999-04-12",
      "url": "https://www.407etr.com/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "hwy-413-announcement-2024": {
      "id": "hwy-413-announcement-2024",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Highway 413: Project Announcement and Environmental Assessment Exemption",
      "author": "Government of Ontario, Ministry of Transportation",
      "date": "2024-04-09",
      "url": "https://www.highway413.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "bradford-bypass-2023": {
      "id": "bradford-bypass-2023",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Bradford Bypass: Environmental Assessment Exemption Regulation (O. Reg. 220/21)",
      "author": "Government of Ontario",
      "date": "2021-04-09",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/210220",
      "verified": true
    },
    "hydro-one-ipo-2015": {
      "id": "hydro-one-ipo-2015",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Hydro One Limited — Initial Public Offering Prospectus",
      "author": "Ontario Financing Authority / Hydro One Limited",
      "date": "2015-11-05",
      "url": "https://www.ofina.on.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "oag-hydro-one-2018": {
      "id": "oag-hydro-one-2018",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "2018 Annual Report — Hydro One Privatization and Rate-Setting Oversight",
      "author": "Office of the Auditor General of Ontario",
      "date": "2018-12-05",
      "url": "https://www.auditor.on.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "lcbo-modernization-2024": {
      "id": "lcbo-modernization-2024",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Alcohol Marketplace Expansion: Early Implementation Agreement with The Beer Store",
      "author": "Government of Ontario, Ministry of Finance",
      "date": "2024-05-24",
      "url": "https://news.ontario.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "serviceontario-staples-2023": {
      "id": "serviceontario-staples-2023",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "ServiceOntario Locations in Staples Stores — Pilot Announcement and Expansion",
      "author": "Government of Ontario, Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery",
      "date": "2023-02-22",
      "url": "https://news.ontario.ca/",
      "verified": true
    },
    "lobbycanada-accerta-oda-2022": {
      "id": "lobbycanada-accerta-oda-2022",
      "type": "government",
      "title": "Lobbyist Registration: AccertaClaim Servicorp Inc. (Accerta) — Parent Company Information",
      "author": "Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada",
      "publisher": "Government of Canada",
      "date": "2022-06-15",
      "url": "https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/app/secure/ocl/lrs/do/vwRg?cno=372174&regId=924601",
      "verified": true
    }
  },
  "note": "Facts reference sources by id; only sources flagged verified underpin published claims."
}