Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky's bill to fill a gap in services for children with developmental disabilities when they turn 18 has passed second reading at Queen's Park.
Noah and Gregory's Law would extend benefits to those families until their children are accepted for the passport program, which provides benefits to adults with developmental disabilities.
Unfortunately, families wait years on the waiting list for adult benefits. The average wait time for up to 16,000 people is four or five years. Gretzky said that is a poverty sentence.
"Many of these families split up because of the stress involved," she said. "Many parents are forced to quit their jobs. They have to stay home and be the primary caregiver for their child. They can not go out and get services on their own."
She is not sure how much the extension in benefits will cost the province but said it is more cost-effective than the alternative.
"We have an adult with a developmental disability. Mom says that he's been in the hospital for over nine months now because they don't have the funding for him to be properly supported at home," said Gretzky. "That's a cost to the healthcare system."
If it passes, it will go to the committee stage next, and the public will be allowed to comment. If it does not, the private member's bill will fail.
Gretzky said it has the support of the Liberals, but she is not sure how the Conservatives will vote on it.
"I want to be clear. It is solely up to the government to decide what happens with this bill. They have a majority," she said. "Whether or not it passes is solely on their shoulders."