Autism
"I want to acknowledge a group of Canadians who are close to my heart. They, like myself, are parents of young children with autism. My son Jaden is 10 years old now and was diagnosed with autism when he was two. I would like those parents to know that I have been where they are. I have experienced the same emotions that they are experiencing right now: the intense love that a parent has for his or her child; the fear that accompanies the discovery that there is something different about the way the child is developing; the hope of finding out that there is a treatment that is helping other children with similar challenges; and the utter frustration and disappointment as time ticks away while the child waits for that treatment."
Mike Lake, Maiden Speech in the House of Commons, April 24, 2006.
To read more about Mike and autism in the media, please follow the links below:
Canada AM (CTV) - April 2, 2013
Power and Politics Interview (CBC) (Starts at 1:14:18) - April 1, 2013
Question Period (CTV) interview with Kevin Newman - March 31, 2013
Ottawa Citizen - March 27, 2013
Power Play Interview (CTV) - March 27, 2013
The Agenda with Steve Paikin (TVO) - March 26,2013
Canada AM (CTV) - September 28, 2012
ABCnews.com - September 28, 2012
The National (CBC) - September 28, 2012
CNN - September 28, 2012
The Agenda with Steve Paikin (TVO) - April 4, 2012
Power and Politics Interview with Evan Solomon (CBC) - April 2, 2012
Beyond Politics Interview with Catherine Clark (CPAC) - June 13, 2010
Power Play Interview with Tom Clark (CTV) - April 1, 2010
Power and Politics Interview with Evan Solomon (CBC) - April 1, 2010
Mike's Statement on World Autism Awareness Day 2013
Mike's Statement on World Autism Awareness Day 2012
Mike's Statement on World Autism Awareness Day 2010
Mike's Statement on World Autism Awareness Day 2009
Mike's Statement on World Autism Awareness Day 2008
For further information on autism, please consult the links below:
Autism Speaks Canada
Autism Society of Edmonton Area
Health Canada
Autism Today
Backgrounder on Autism from CBC News
Autism Society Canada
Autism Canada Foundation