A Progressive Conservative MPP was quickly turfed from caucus amid accusations he heckled the parents of autistic children, in a sign of a deepening crisis for Premier Doug Ford’s government over the funding of therapy services for kids.Parents packed the public gallery in the legislature — some wiping away tears as they listened to MPPs debate the issue on Wednesday — and also spoke out about the changes they say will be devastating to their families.“Us parents are going into crisis,” said Stephanie Ridley of Burlington, the mother of a 7-year-old boy who will lose his weekly three days of therapy.“The PCs have abandoned these kids … When is this government going to step up and help 7-year-olds, 5-year-old kids that are trying to learn how to speak, to brush their hair, to put on their own pants?” said Ridley, visibly upset.“The government has closed doors.”After the end of question period, as MPPs were exiting, New Democrat Monique Taylor (Hamilton Mountain) turned to Ford and called out “Doug, was this the vision?” Then, amid some banter, PC MPP Randy Hillier yelled out “yada, yada, yada” — loud enough so that parents heard. Soon after, Ford issued a statement saying Hillier was suspended and his future “participation in caucus” is up for discussion given his “disrespectful comments to parents of children with autism.”“I want to listen to every parent, and every family member who wants to share their stories and their asks,” said Ford, who earlier said he’d personally taken a number of phone calls. “But Mr. Hillier’s comments crossed the line and that is unacceptable.”Hillier later apologized “to the parents present who may have felt that my comments were directed at them; they were not, and never would be. At the end of question period as members were leaving their seats, Monique Taylor continued to poli ...
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