Ford suspends own MPP over autism debate heckles
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MPP Randy Hillier has been suspended from the Ontario Progressive Conservative caucus over comments he allegedly made to parents of children with autism, Premier Doug Ford’s office says.
“Effective immediately, Premier Doug Ford announced that Randy Hillier has been suspended indefinitely from the Ontario PC Caucus following his disrespectful comments to parents of children with autism,” a statement from Ford’s office said Wednesday.
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“I want to listen to every parent, and every family member who wants to share their stories and their asks. But Mr. Hillier’s comments crossed the line and that is unacceptable.”
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Hillier denied that his heckling — uttering “yada, yada, yada” — was directed at parents of kids with autism in the public galleries of Ontario’s legislature. They had showed up Wednesday to protest the government’s new autism treatment funding model.
His comment was meant for NDP MPP Monique Taylor, according to Hillier, who accused her of exploiting the parents for political gain.
“To use that hardship and to use that emotional strain for partisan purposes, I find that reprehensible,” he said.
Hillier added he wasn’t quite sure what a suspension entailed but he remained a fan of Ford, and expected his fellow caucus colleagues to give him a fair hearing.
Regardless of the target, families fighting for autism services were hurt by Hillier’s heckle which was dismissive and cruel, Taylor said.
“But families are far more hurt by Mr. Ford’s decision to cut their children’s services,” insisted Taylor, who hosted a media conference Wednesday for parents whose children will lose most of the funding they now receive for treatment.
She compared the government’s new autism treatment plan to burning $300 million on the front lawn of Queen’s Park.
Stephanie Ridley, parent of a non-verbal seven-year-old boy with autism, said her family has exhausted savings and can’t afford the cost of more treatment.
“Ewan will be trapped for the rest of his life trying to find his words,” Ridley said.
Under the revised funding model announced by Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod, the entire funding pot is divided equally among children currently receiving service and the 23,000 who are on waiting lists.
“I’m proud of this plan,” MacLeod said, criticizing opposition parties for suggesting to parents it might still be changed.
The new program provides a maximum of $140,000 per child until the age of 18, but parents say treatment can easily cost $60,000 to $80,000 a year.
The government also claws back funding on a sliding-scale beginning when a family’s net income hits $55,000 a year.
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