Autism Diagnoses in Canadian Youth Surge Over 20 Years; Causes Still Unclear: Report

Health Canada’s offices at Tunney’s Pasture, in Ottawa is seen on Jan. 29, 2025. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang1/6/2026|Updated: 1/6/2026The number of Canadian children and adolescents being diagnosed with autism has risen sharply over the past two decades, but the reason for the increase is not known, a recently published government report says.Data compiled by Canada’s Public Health Agency indicates the rate of newly identified autism cases went from 35 per 100,000 children and youth in 2000-2001 to 365 per 100,000 in 2023-2024.Jennifer Cowan is a writer and editor with the Canadian edition of The Epoch Times.Author’s Selected Articles