Privacy, on your terms.Analytics run by default. Decline any time.
A factual record of Ontario government autism service commitments compared to documented outcomes. All figures are sourced from public record: FAO reports, Ontario Autism Coalition FOI, and Ontario Budget documents.
Direct answer
Ontario Autism Coalition FOI · FAO reports · Verified 2026-08-10
In brief
Commitments and outcomes table. Scroll horizontally to review all columns.
| Year | Speaker | Commitment | Source | Outcome | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Ontario PC Party (Doug Ford, campaign) | Ford PC 2018 campaign platform messaging on ending OAP waitlists | Public record / OPC campaign materials 2018 | Waitlist has grown from approximately 23,000 (2019 approximate baseline) to 91,974 registered children as of May 2026 (per Ontario Autism Coalition FOI). | Gap documented |
| 2019 | MCCSS / Government of Ontario | Ontario announced it would adopt recommendations for a needs-based OAP | Ontario Newsroom, Needs-Based Autism Program (December 17, 2019) | The announcement described the program design and planned service framework. | Reversed |
| 2019–2021 | MCCSS / Government of Ontario | Childhood Budgets (2019) and interim one-time payments while redesign underway | MCCSS program updates 2019–2021 | Historical record: Childhood Budgets and interim one-time funding were temporary programs while the needs-based framework was being developed. The amounts are not restated here without their program-specific source and eligibility context. | Partial |
| 2022 | MCCSS / Government of Ontario | Needs-based Ontario Autism Program framework | Ontario Newsroom, Ontario Autism Program update, 2022 | An active funding agreement is not proof of therapy attendance. Foundational Family Services (free workshops, coaching) are universally available. Core Clinical Services, the funded therapy stream, has an active funding agreement for 22.5% of registered children as of May 2026 (per Ontario Autism Coalition FOI). 77.5% (71,263 children) remain without funded Core Clinical Services. | Partial |
| 2024 | Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (independent oversight) | FAO 2024 review of MCCSS spending plans | Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, MCCSS Spending Plan Review (2024) | The FAO reviewed MCCSS spending plans. Ontario Autism Coalition FOI records 91,974 children registered as of May 2026; compare the current figure with each source's stated scope and date. | Gap documented |
| 2026-27 Budget | Government of Ontario (Ministry of Finance / MCCSS) | $965M OAP allocation, described by the government as its largest autism investment | Ontario Budget 2026-27 | The $965M allocation is for 2026-27. The FAO (2020) estimated $1.35B for about 40,700 children at 2018-19 service levels. $385M (FAO 2020 at 2018-19 levels vs. 2026-27 budget) | Partial |
Sources: the public records cited in each row. · Updated
The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) estimated $1.35B to serve about 40,700 children at 2018-19 service levels. That estimate predates the current registration level of 91,974.
The 2026-27 Ontario Budget allocates $965M to the OAP. $385M (FAO 2020 at 2018-19 levels vs. 2026-27 budget)
Sources: FAO 2020 analysis; Ontario Budget 2026-27 (tabled March 26, 2026); CBC FOI of OAP bi-weekly progress reports (Jan 7, 2026). See also: Ontario Auditor General and FAO Reports.
This tracker is re-checked against the latest MCCSS bi-weekly OAP progress reports and Ontario Budget documents on a rolling basis. Figures are updated as new public-record releases become available.
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. This represents ~300% growth in registrations since 2019, with 71,263 children still waiting for essential funding.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · Open source record
During the 2018 Ontario election campaign, the Ford Progressive Conservative Party used messaging consistent with ending OAP waitlists. In February 2019, the government announced an OAP redesign that introduced income-based funding caps, which was reversed within three weeks after large public protests. The government then committed to developing a needs-based framework, which launched in 2022.
The OAP waitlist has grown substantially. Per Ontario Autism Coalition historical tracking, the approximate 2019 baseline was around 23,000 registered children. As of May 13, 2026, Ontario Autism Coalition FOI data showed that 91,974 children were registered with 71,263 (77.5%) waiting for funded Core Clinical Services. The 31% growth from the most recent FAO baseline (70,176) to the May 2026 figure was documented by Ontario Autism Coalition FOI.
The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) reviewed MCCSS spending plans in 2024. Consult the report for its findings and methodology.
Ontario Budget 2026-27 allocated $965M to the OAP. The FAO (2020) estimated $1.35B for about 40,700 children at 2018-19 service levels. $385M (FAO 2020 at 2018-19 levels vs. 2026-27 budget) Source: Ontario Budget 2026-27; FAO 2020.
At the time of the April 2019 OAP redesign, the approximate OAP registration baseline was around 23,000 children (OAC historical tracking; the government did not publish exact real-time counts in 2019). As of May 13, 2026 (Ontario Autism Coalition FOI of bi-weekly progress reports), 91,974 children were registered with 71,263 waiting for Core Clinical Services. The Ontario Autism Coalition has documented this growth through successive FOI requests.
The FAO and Auditor General publish independent assessments of provincial program effectiveness.
Directly paired with official government filings, FOI releases, and audited datasets.
91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
According to the FAO (2020 report), OAP funding covers less than one-third of estimated need at 2018-19 service levels
$965M
Ontario allocated $965M to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27
22.5%
Only 20,711 children have active funding agreements (22.5%), less than one in four
Founder & Autism Advocate
Lived experience: Parent of autistic child navigating OAP system