End the Wait Ontario
End the Wait Ontario
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End the Wait Ontario
End the Wait Ontario
| Region | Population | BCBAs | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Toronto Area | 6,400,000 | ~800 | 1:8,000 |
| Ottawa Region | 1,400,000 | ~120 | 1:11,600 |
| Northern Ontario | 780,000 | ~12 | 1:65,000 |
Even the largest northern cities face severe denial of care
The shortage is systemic, not accidental
There are no BCBA training programs north of Barrie. Anyone who wants to become a behavior analyst must move to southern Ontario for 2+ years of education. Most never return.
OAP pays the same rate whether a therapist serves 10 kids in downtown Toronto or drives 200 km between clients in Northern Ontario. The economics don't work.
With 1 person per square kilometer (vs. 4,000+ in Toronto), there aren't enough clients in any single town to sustain a full-time practice.
Ontario has no plan to ensure geographic equity in autism services. The market is expected to solve it—but markets don't solve remote healthcare.
Policy solutions that could close the gap
Fund BCBA training programs at Lakehead, Laurentian, or Nipissing universities with commitments to practice in the north for 5 years.
OAP rates should include a 40-60% premium for northern service delivery to account for travel time, vehicle costs, and smaller caseloads.
Establish publicly-funded autism centers in Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and Sault Ste. Marie with salaried staff, not fee-for-service.
EndTheWaitOntario.com is committed to accuracy. Our data is independently verified against official government reports, scientific literature, and accessible public records.
| Region | Population | BCBAs | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Toronto Area | 6,400,000 | ~800 | 1:8,000 |
| Ottawa Region | 1,400,000 | ~120 | 1:11,600 |
| Northern Ontario | 780,000 | ~12 | 1:65,000 |
Even the largest northern cities face severe denial of care
The shortage is systemic, not accidental
There are no BCBA training programs north of Barrie. Anyone who wants to become a behavior analyst must move to southern Ontario for 2+ years of education. Most never return.
OAP pays the same rate whether a therapist serves 10 kids in downtown Toronto or drives 200 km between clients in Northern Ontario. The economics don't work.
With 1 person per square kilometer (vs. 4,000+ in Toronto), there aren't enough clients in any single town to sustain a full-time practice.
Ontario has no plan to ensure geographic equity in autism services. The market is expected to solve it—but markets don't solve remote healthcare.
Policy solutions that could close the gap
Fund BCBA training programs at Lakehead, Laurentian, or Nipissing universities with commitments to practice in the north for 5 years.
OAP rates should include a 40-60% premium for northern service delivery to account for travel time, vehicle costs, and smaller caseloads.
Establish publicly-funded autism centers in Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and Sault Ste. Marie with salaried staff, not fee-for-service.
EndTheWaitOntario.com is committed to accuracy. Our data is independently verified against official government reports, scientific literature, and accessible public records.