Children, Community and Social Services Lisa MacLeod faced more angry parents Thursday over the Ford Government's autism funding overhaul, with one mother saying she'd rather go back on a waiting list then see the plan go forward.
Mothers Brandi Tapp and Sarah Farrants met with MacLeod and fought back tears as they spoke with reporters after the meeting.
"We were thanked for coming all this way, coming from London today to speak with her, but that we shouldn't get our hopes up," Tapp said. "Her decision had been made and it was final."
WATCH: A tearful mom of a three-old boy with autism emerges from Minister Lisa MacLeod’s Office where she says MacLeod told her not to get her hopes up #onpoli pic.twitter.com/OI0btE90Pr
— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) February 21, 2019
Last week, the PC government announced it would attempt to clear the backlog of 23,000 children not receiving any treatment by dividing up more of the allocated funding to families, which will receive up to $140,000 for treatment.
That will be the maximum amount if a child is in treatment from age two to 18, even though costs can reach up to $80,000 for children who require the most intense therapy.
Since the announcement, MacLeod and the government have been under scrutiny for basing the program on age in order to get more children some form of treatment.
"My son is a level-3 in severity. He can't talk, he can't go to the bathroom, he can't interact with other people," Farrants said. "My husband and I have been working for our home, for our children and based on our income, our son will get less funding than somebody who makes less money, but may have a higher functioning child."
"There's nothing equitable about this program."
MacLeod told reporters after meeting with the parents that she appreciated their concerns.
"But guys we've made a decision," she said. "I understand there are 25 per cent of the children in the province of Ontario who are receiving support and their parents are very vocal. But I have an obligation to the other three-quarters of the parents and their children as well."
"I remain steadfast in making sure that this plan is implemented so we clear the waitlist."
The NDP has also called for MacLeod to resign after the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysts claimed her office requested a quote of support before the changes were announced and that failure to do so would result in 'four long years' for the organization.
MacLeod issued an apology on Twitter saying "This is an issue I take very personally, and I apologize if my comments made anyone feel threatened or uncomfortable."
Premier Doug Ford has fully support MacLeod, calling her a rock star in cabinet.
With files from Siobhan Morris