Bill C-304 (Historical)

National Strategy for the Treatment of Autism Act

An Act to provide for the development of a national strategy for the treatment of autism and to amend the Canada Health Act

This bill is from the 39th Parliament, 1st session, which ended in October 2007.

Sponsor

Shawn Murphy Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Defeated, as of Feb. 21, 2007
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment requires the Minister of Health to convene a conference of all provincial and territorial ministers of health for the purpose of working together to develop a national strategy for the treatment of autism. It also requires the Minister to table a report in both Houses of Parliament specifying a plan of action to implement this strategy.
The enactment also amends the Canada Health Act to ensure that the cost of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) for autistic persons is covered by the health care insurance plan of every province or territory.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-304s:

C-304 (2022) National Food Waste Awareness Day Act

C-304 (2021) An Act to amend the Criminal Code (grooming)

C-304 (2016) An Act to amend the Railway Safety Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (transport of dangerous goods by rail)

C-304 (2011) Law An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting freedom)

Votes

Feb. 21, 2007 Failed That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Health.

AutismStatements By Members

February 21st, 2007 / 2:05 p.m.

See context

Conservative

Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB

Mr. Speaker, today I need to address an issue of political gamesmanship taken too far.

My 11-year-old son, Jaden, has autism. Bill C-304 purports to help families struggling financially when a child is diagnosed with autism. However, this bill is simply a political manipulation.

The Liberal member knows full well that this is a bill he could never have supported when he was in government. If this bill were to pass, autism would be the one and only disease or disorder named in the Canada Health Act. Cancer is not named. Neither is diabetes nor cardiovascular disease.

The member knows that only the provinces can act on the provision of ABA treatment if we are to maintain the integrity of the Canada Health Act. Why in most cases are the provinces not taking urgent action? That is a question to which voters should demand an answer from their provincial governments.

What the member does not get is that this is not an appropriate wedge issue to exploit for political gain. These are real people with real challenges who are desperate for real solutions. Bill C-304 does nothing but give false hope to families who deserve more than to be treated as pawns in a political game.