A politician in Waterloo wants to know how money is being spent at a local organization dedicated to helping children with complex needs. In March, 21 employees at KidsAbility in Kitchener, Ont. were laid off. The cuts came after 37 positions were also eliminated last year when KidsAbility paused its applied behaviour analysis (ABA) therapy services. Following the latest round of layoffs, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 258 warned the decision could have serious impacts for children and families. Now, Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife is calling for an audit. “These are fundamental questions of transparency. If you are an agency or an organization and are receiving public funding, then that transparency needs to be there,” Fife said. KidsAbility is funded through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, local donors, fundraising and purchased-service options. In 2024/2025, KidsAbility received $25 million from the ministry alone. Fife said she has already done some digging to try to get to the bottom of what is happening, including speaking with some employees. “That’s when I learned that the CEO had said that the ministry allocation was suitable for the needs of KidsAbility. And I just question – why are the layoffs needed?” she said. She believes there is a disconnect between the funding the organization is receiving and the recent staffing decisions. “There’s a contradiction in stories right now, and I’m just looking for clarity, which is why I requested an audit, because the audit will tell the story of what the needs are in the community, how well those needs are being met and how well the money is being invested.” According to the Sunshine List, a database of people working in the public sector who make more than $100,000 per year, Jennifer Foster, KidsAbility’s CEO, brought in $232,040 in salary and taxable benefits in 2025. The year before, that number sat at $190,000. It’s a difference of 22.1 per cent. “A special place” During an interview with CTV News Kitchener on Tuesday, Fife said KidsAbility has become critical for many families in Waterloo Region. “KidsAbility is such a special place for us in this community. It gives a lot of hope to families who are struggling,” she said. When the layoffs were announced, some parents began to worry about the future their children could be facing. “Parents have been coming to us on a very regular basis expressing some of their concerns. I think the latest announcement of layoffs, where KidsAbility had said this won’t interrupt service, was a red flag,” Fife recalled. “I mean, 21 people are no longer going to be employed at that institution, and parents have already seen a decline in services.” Since the layoffs were announced, KidsAbility has maintained the position that families will not suffer any consequences, despite the warning from OPSEU. “Recent decisions around layoffs were not made lightly and are a result of our efforts to responsibly align our operations with resources and service needs,” a statement from KidsAbility claimed. “There has been no disruption to existing programs and services, and our focus remains on continuity of care.” The organization said it partakes in annual audits. Those audited financial statements are available on their website. “Furthermore, in 2025, KidsAbility conducted an independent, third-party review of executive compensation structures against external market data from similar organizations in the sector. This ensured competitiveness, equity and compliance while aligning with sector standards,” the statement said. There is no clear indication if, or when, the audit will be conducted.
