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Manitoba NDP rolls back on child-specific autism plan, will now focus on adults, too

  • The Canadian Press

  • Canadian Press

  • October 23, 2026

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew looks on as Nahanni Fontaine, Minister of Families, Minister responsible for Accessibility, Minister responsible for Gender Equity is sworn-in by Lt. Gov. Anita Neville at a Premier and cabinet swearing-in ceremony in Winnipeg, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG -- The Manitoba government is no longer pursuing a child-specific autism strategy and will instead have one that focuses not only on children, but also on adults.

Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine says the government has heard the concerns from the public and is acting on them.

She says they will rescind amendments made to a private member's bill that narrowed the approach.

The Autism Strategy Act that Liberal MLA Cindy Lamoureux put forward requires the establishment of a provincewide strategy as well as annual reports to track progress.

Lamoureux says almost everyone she consulted with spoke of the importance of services for adults.

Fontaine says the government is now committed to passing the act in its original form next week.

This report by was first published Oct. 23, 2026.