Ontario will spend an additional $58.6 million a year towards services for children with autism, the province's family services minister, Brenda Elliot, announced Monday.

Most of the money, nearly $40 million, will go towards providing Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) for young autism patients.

"This will make our total commitment $78 million for IBI," Elliot told a news conference west of Toronto.

IBI is an intensive training and reinforcement program for autistic children that aims to promote appropriate behaviour and improve daily functioning. Children with autism often have severe communication problems and trouble engaging in social interaction.

The treatment, which is not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, is funded for children under the age of six through the Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services.

But waiting lists for IBI are long, with about 900 autistic children between the ages of two and five in line for treatment.

Parents with autistic children older than six argue that limiting treatment coverage to young patients is discriminatory. It's estimated that some families pay about $50,000 a year out of their own pockets in order for older children to undergo IBI.

Ontario NDP health critic Shelly Martel told CFTO News that the province should have lifted the age restrictions on IBI coverage in addition to providing more funding.

"I think it's unacceptable that this government is going to continue to discriminate against children who are age six who need IBI treatment," Martel said, mentioning that one Ontario couple she knows has considered selling their home in order to pay for treatment for their six-year-old son.

Elliot says IBI is most effective for younger children, but a court recently ordered the British Columbia government to fund the treatment for all children who need it, regardless of age.

The new funding will also go towards programs for older children with autism to help them make a transition to school. Among the initiatives will be transition coordinators for families and extra-curricular programs focusing on improving social interaction, behaviour and communication.