Northern Ontario's 780,000 residents across 806,000 km² have only 12 autism specialists. Families drive 500km or fly to Toronto for care. Indigenous communities have zero services. Winter makes travel dangerous. Telehealth fails due to poor internet. Children miss their entire intervention window traveling for basic care.
km² service area
Total BCBAs
Average drive
Annual travel cost
For comparison: London, England to Edinburgh, Scotland is only 534 km
Northern Ontario is larger than France but has fewer autism providers than a single Toronto neighborhood
Federal funding exists through Jordan's Principle to cover autism services for First Nations children. However, funding is useless without providers. Families have funding approval but no one to provide services.
Contact: 1-855-572-4453 (24/7 Jordan's Principle Call Centre)
| Location | Service Hub | Distance | Travel Method | Cost per Trip | Annual (12 trips) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenora | Thunder Bay | 489 km | Drive | $350 | $4,200 |
| Timmins | Sudbury | 295 km | Drive | $250 | $3,000 |
| Moosonee | Timmins → Toronto | Train + Flight | Mixed | $1,200 | $14,400 |
| Red Lake | Thunder Bay | 435 km | Drive/Fly | $800 | $9,600 |
| Fort Albany | Toronto | N/A | Fly only | $2,500 | $30,000 |
Northern families spend more on travel to access autism services than the Ontario Autism Program provides in funding ($8,000/year average). Many families go into debt or abandon treatment entirely.
An estimated 40% of Northern families completely abandon autism services due to:
Cost to implement: $50 million annually would transform autism services in Northern Ontario. This is less than the cost of one kilometer of highway construction in Toronto.
Northern Ontario families routinely travel 200-500km one-way for autism services. Families in remote communities like Kenora or Timmins drive 4-8 hours to Thunder Bay or Sudbury. Some fly to Toronto, costing $800-1,500 per trip. Many families spend $15,000-30,000 annually on travel alone.
Only 12 Board Certified Behavior Analysts serve all of Northern Ontario's 780,000 residents across 806,000 km². That's one BCBA per 65,000 people and 67,000 km². Thunder Bay has 4 BCBAs, Sudbury has 3, North Bay has 2, and the rest of the region shares 3 traveling providers.
Most Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario have zero autism services. Of 106 First Nations, only 5 have any autism support. Culturally appropriate services are virtually non-existent. Families must leave their communities, disrupting cultural connections and support systems. Jordan's Principle funding exists but providers are unavailable.
Telehealth cannot fully replace hands-on ABA therapy. Northern Ontario also faces connectivity issues - 63% of Northern communities lack reliable broadband. Many Indigenous communities have no internet. Video therapy is limited to parent coaching and consultation, not direct intervention that children desperately need.
Northern Ontario lacks autism providers due to: No regional BCBA training programs, isolation from professional networks, higher cost of living vs Southern salaries, extreme weather conditions, vast distances between clients, and lack of infrastructure. Providers who train locally often leave for better opportunities in Southern Ontario or the US.
An estimated 40% of Northern families abandon autism services entirely. Children go without any intervention, missing their critical developmental window. Families attempt DIY therapy without professional guidance, risking harm. Some families separate, with one parent relocating to access services. Mental health crises increase without support.
780,000 Northerners deserve equal access to healthcare. Children shouldn't miss their critical intervention window because of geography. Demand action from Queen's Park and Ottawa.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River
Marcus Powlowski (Liberal)
807-625-1160
Sudbury
Viviane Lapointe (Liberal)
705-673-7107
Timmins-James Bay
Charlie Angus (NDP)
705-267-3311
Kenora
Eric Melillo (Conservative)
807-468-2170
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