Reports that parents of children on the autism spectrum had been asked to sign non disclosure agreements (NDAs) in order to meet with MPPs and discuss their concerns seem to be a misunderstanding.
The claim was made in an interview with CTV News Channel and echoed by some community leaders.
"All we know is that a number of parents who have, finally, gotten an opportunity to speak with their MPP are being asked to sign an NDA before they can actually get that appointment," Chris Potvin told CTV News.
A representative from the Premier's office tells NEWSTALK 1010 there doesn't appear to be any truth to the allegation.
— Lisa MacLeod (@MacLeodLisa) March 25, 2019
I’m all for discussion, debate & even peaceful protests.
But insults, threats & outright lies perpetuated without due diligence is not only disrepectful, it unnecessarily increases the anxiety of families. https://t.co/2nKbsK4Y23
On Monday, former Toronto District School Board trustee and Toronto city council candidate Tiffany Ford shared a form online that she says was passed to her by a friend seeking a meeting with Etobicoke Centre MPP Kinga Surma. Tiffany Ford described the form as an NDA.
The document is not an NDA, but rather a form that allows an MPP to share personal information of constituents with relevant government ministries in order to address issues they have raised. The government says these forms are used regularly in discussions on a wide range of issues, not just autism funding.
Tiffany Ford/Twitter
After weeks of feisty pushback from parents, the government nixed income testing for the autism program, so all kids under six diagnosed as on the spectrum will receive $20,000 and kids over six will receive $5,000.
The plan as originally designed would only give those maximum amounts to families making under $55,000.
Intensive therapy can cost up to $80,000 a year and many parents with kids already in government-funded therapy have said they will be unable to cover the difference to keep their kids in full-time therapy.
with files from the Canadian Press