SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Canada's Commitment to the Fight Against HIV/AIDS

Colleagues, on February 7, the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research, or CANFAR, unveiled its strategic plan in response to an alarming increase in cases of HIV in Canada.

The Public Health Agency of Canada reported 1,833 new HIV diagnoses in 2022, primarily among men aged 30 to 39. This represents a 24.9% increase in new diagnoses compared with 2021, the highest increase in more than 10 years.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba are the most affected provinces, with 19.0 and 13.0 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants respectively, compared with a national average of 4.7.

As CANFAR stated in its strategic plan, and I quote:

The HIV epidemic in Canada has been fueled in large part by health inequalities, the reduction of testing services during the COVID-19 pandemic, a lack of comprehensive youth sexual health education, the toxic drug crisis, and a lack of culturally-appropriate testing and care.

The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research estimates that approximately 1 in 10 Canadians living with HIV are unaware of their status and have not received life-saving anti-viral treatment. Stigma, racism, homophobia and transphobia are other barriers that prevent people from getting tested without fear or judgment.

Lack of sexual education in schools, discrimination towards 2SLGBTQI+ communities, particularly towards trans young people, and restrictive public policies are all factors that increase discrimination and don’t help eradicate this virus. What are we going to do to change this intolerable situation, colleagues?

As you may recall, four years ago, I tabled a motion in the Senate that was adopted the same day — thanks to you — urging the government to increase funding for the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS to $100 million annually. While applauding the efforts of the federal government, sustainable funding for community response here in Canada is still lacking and inequities are growing.

We need more support for the organizations. We need to give better access to prep, to self-testing, to medication and other measures, and we need to stop discrimination.

Thirty-nine million people around the world were living with HIV in 2022, and 630,000 people died of it. Behind those numbers are women, men, children, people from all walks of life, all origins and all regions of the world.

Honourable senators, HIV is not a virus of the past. It is all too present here today, and it is especially affecting young people across the country.

UNAIDS and its member countries, including Canada, are committed to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Time is of the essence.

Let’s take action together, now.

Thank you. Meegwetch.