When government screws up.

• Date: 01 September 2019
• Author: Cirtwill, Charles

There are numerous lessons to be learned from the mishandling of the autism file here in Ontario over the past year. Most of them of the "what not to do" kind. But there is one huge lesson that risks getting lost in the (fully justified) anger and frustration. Ultimately, the government did the right thing. They admitted they screwed up and have committed to correcting their error.

Politicians and public servants are extremely risk averse. They live in a fishbowl, with 24-hour news, little fact-checking of critiques that can go viral in seconds, and powerful incentives to deny, deflect or delay.

Admitting error and risking increased backlash is a difficult thing to do. If we want good, evidence-based policy decisions we need to applaud loudly when government admits a mistake and takes real steps to fix it.

That applies to all parties, by the way. In government or out.

Make no mistake, the Liberals and NDP are following the reaction...