Senator Gold, April is World Autism Month in Canada, and we have the Autism Alliance of Canada stakeholders from across the country coming to Ottawa for a conference next week. These are people who are desperate, and they need hope. They’re very concerned that Bill S-203 — which was passed unanimously by this chamber and the House — has not been moved forward by this government. One of the requests was that, within 12 months, they hold a national conference. The government has not done that yet. They’ve been waiting eight years now for a national strategy on autism. Nothing of any substance has come out so far .

Of course, next week we have the budget. They’re hopeful that despite the failures in terms of a national autism strategy, as well as the lack of a national framework from the government, something tangible will come out in the budget next week. They’re concerned because, again, we’ve seen the government, over the last few days, roll out a number of issues that are important to them, and autism seems to be glaringly absent.

Can you shed some light on that, Senator Gold?

All those words are comforting, Senator Gold, but we have to do more than that when the stakeholders show up in Ottawa next week. It’s been years of navel-gazing and aspirational responses to their problems. We passed the piece of legislation, which we did collectively. We all deserve the credit. But it’s only effective if the government respects the wishes of that legislation.

Therefore, I think it’s not time to inquire. I think it’s time to send a message to the government that when we do certain pieces of legislation on behalf of citizens, the government must respect it — like Bill S-203. I hope that message will be conveyed to the government in a strong fashion.