The program brings the Montreal Children's Hospital's autism specialists together in one clinic, where they can offer medical and social services to autistic children and their parents.

"Our waiting list is long, unfortunately, as in other centres," says Dr. Lee Tidmarsh, a child psychiatrist at the Children's Hospital.

Surprising numbers

Tidmarsh says autism is a complex neuro-developmental disorder which strikes children from all classes and cultural groups.

"The number of autistic children took us by surprise. In the past when we thought of these children as being four per 10,000 we now think of them as being in the numbers of six per 1,000," Tidmarsh says.

On top of the medical and social services, it will also conduct many research studies on autism.

Two burn units

Meanwhile, a Liberal MNA responded to rumours that the Montreal Children's Hospital might lose its burn unit to Ste. Justine's Hospital.

Russell Williams, MNA for Nelligan, in the northwest part of Montreal, was at the Montreal Children's Hospital on Wednesday to announce the opening of a new autism clinic.

Williams says the Liberal government is committed to keeping both hospitals operational.