BUDGET HUB
91,974 children registered for autism services. 71,263 still waiting. The March 26 budget has been tabled. See what it means for the children still waiting.
Direct answer
2026 Ontario Budget — Building Ontario · FAO Spending Plan Review (2024) · Verified 2026-11-03
Budget allocations are measured against the children still waiting.
Ontario's figures, as of May 2026 (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026).
Registered
91,974Children registered
Total registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Funded
20,711Have active funding
22.5% of registered children
Without active agreement
71,263Without an active funding agreement
An administrative status; it does not confirm current service delivery.
Figures as of May 13, 2026 · MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · checked November 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Without an active funding agreement | 71,263 |
Sources: 2026 Ontario Budget — Building Ontario; MCCSS bi-weekly OAP progress reports; FAO Spending Plan Review (2024). · Updated 2026-11-03
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| OAP Budget 2026-27 | $965M | 2026 Ontario Budget — Building Ontario · March 26, 2026 |
| Actual OAP Spending 2023-24 | $691.2M | FAO Spending Plan Review (2024) |
| Core Clinical Services share, 2023-24 | $307.3 million (44.5%) | FAO Spending Plan Review; MCCSS documents obtained through FOI |
| Children Without an Active Agreement | 71,263 | MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 |
| FAO Estimate to Clear Waitlist | $1.35B | Financial Accountability Office estimate · 2020 |
Ontario's autism program budget tells two different stories depending on which number you read. The budgeted amount for 2026-27 is $965 million. The latest detailed pillar-level breakdown located is for 2023-24, when the total was $691.2 million.
In 2020, the FAO estimated $1.35B a year to serve about 40,700 children at 2018-19 service levels. The current 2026-27 budget is a different period and basis for comparison.
The March 26 budget has been tabled. See our detailed analysis for what it means for autism families.
Sources: 2026 Ontario Budget — Building Ontario; FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI. · Updated 2026-11-03
| Measure | Amount and description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| OAP allocation | The 2026-27 OAP allocation is $965M; the budget describes new funding for core clinical services and sector capacity. | 2026 Ontario Budget — Building Ontario · March 26, 2026 |
| Core Clinical Services | Core Clinical Services: $307.3M in estimated 2023-24 spending. | FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI |
| Urgent Response Services | Urgent Response Services: $58.9M in estimated 2023-24 spending. | FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI |
| AccessOAP Operations | AccessOAP Operations: $57.9M in estimated 2023-24 spending. | FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI |
| Entry to School Program | Entry to School Program: $54.7M in estimated 2023-24 spending. | FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI |
| Other Legacy Autism Programs | Other Legacy Autism Programs: $104.5M in estimated 2023-24 spending. | FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI |
| System Capacity Building Initiatives | System Capacity Building Initiatives: $26.5M in estimated 2023-24 spending. | FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI |
| Foundational Family Services | Foundational Family Services: $23.2M in estimated 2023-24 spending. | FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI |
| Caregiver-Mediated Early Years | Caregiver-Mediated Early Years: $20.4M in estimated 2023-24 spending. | FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI |
| Connections for Students | Connections for Students: $14.0M in estimated 2023-24 spending. | FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI |
| Diagnostic Hubs (5 provincial) | Diagnostic Hubs (5 provincial): $9.7M in estimated 2023-24 spending. | FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI |
| Initial Childhood Budgets / Interim One-Time & Renewal Funding | Initial Childhood Budgets / Interim One-Time & Renewal Funding: $13.9M in estimated 2023-24 spending. | FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI |
| Program | What this page says | Source page |
|---|---|---|
| Autism Services (OAP) | 71,263 children without an active Core Funding Agreement. The OAP budget determines how many will receive Core Clinical Services, ABA, speech, OT, and mental health support. | Budget Watch 2026 |
| Disability Support (ODSP) | See the current ODSP rates and eligibility information on the dedicated page. | Ontario Budget 2026: Disability |
| Education Funding | Read about Ontario education policy and supports for students with disabilities. | Education |
| Healthcare & Mental Health | Pediatric mental health waitlists, children's treatment centres, and diagnostic hub funding all depend on healthcare budget allocations. | Healthcare & Autism Families |
Total actual spending was $730.7M in 2024–25 and $814.6M in 2025–26. See the 2024–25 Public Accounts and September 2026 Estimates hearing. Budgets and actual expenditure are different measures. Here is a comparison using the historical pillar-level breakdown (2023-24):
The government budgeted $965 million for the OAP in 2026-27, but in 2023-24, actual spending was $691.2 million. The breakdown lists $307.3 million (44.5%) for Core Clinical Services, the therapy that families are actually waiting for.
The other categories and amounts are listed in the cited OAP spending breakdown.
Per child, this works out to roughly $10,492 per registered child, well below the $6,600–$65,000/year range of Core Clinical funding levels. The math does not add up, and the waitlist grows by approximately 907 children per month.
Sources: FAO Spending Plan Review (2024); MCCSS documents obtained through FOI; MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026. · Updated 2026-11-03
The Ontario Budget 2026 was tabled on March 26, 2026. The Minister of Finance tabled the budget in the Ontario Legislature.
In 2023-24, Ontario spent $691.2M on the Ontario Autism Program. The OAP budget allocation for 2026-27 is $965M. In 2020, the FAO estimated $1.35B per year to serve about 40,700 children at 2018-19 service levels.
Autism spending appears in the Expenditure Estimates under the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), specifically in Transfer Payments line items for the Ontario Autism Program and Children's Treatment. The Financial Accountability Office also publishes independent analyses of ministry spending.
The budget is tabled. Review the sources and write your MPP about the 71,263 children waiting for OAP funding.
How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?
As 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. 71,263 registered children have no active funding agreement. The FAO counted 70,176 registered at the end of 2023-24.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · Open source record
Is the Ontario Autism Program underfunded?
The 2026-27 Ontario Budget allocated $965 million for autism services, up from $779 million in 2025-26, while 91,974 children are registered. The budget record supports the current allocation; the historical FAO funding model is cited separately.
Source: 2026-27 Ontario Budget · Open source record
Sources on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
$965M
Ontario allocated $965M to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27
The FAO estimated $1.35 billion in annual OAP need at 2018-19 service levels for approximately 40,700 children in its 2020 report
91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Check the author’s context, review method, and how to report an error.
Founder & Autism Advocate
Lived experience: Parent of autistic child in the OAP system