Sharp rise in sexually transmitted infections must be stopped: Senator Cormier
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Ever since my appointment to the Senate of Canada in November 2016, I have remained steadfast in my commitment to public health and safety by raising awareness and promoting the fight against HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs).
Shedding light on these issues — as was done recently on World Aids Day and during the Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment Summit — is of the utmost importance because they deeply affect our country’s economic, social and cultural prosperity. Canada cannot effectively assume its sovereignty and strive to become one of the strongest economies in the G7 if it does not adequately address its public health issues, such as the alarming rise in rates of STBBIs.
The statistics are staggering. During the last decade, chlamydia cases have increased by 49%, gonorrhea cases by 81% and syphilis cases by 178%. In 2017, the number of reported cases of HIV reached its highest level since 2008.
On October 22, 2025, I tabled in the Upper Chamber a data-driven publication entitled Toward Fair and Equitable Public Health: Ending HIV/AIDS and STBBIs, which presents a status review of STBBIs in Canada and 34 strategic recommendations stemming from a debate that took place in the Senate during the 44th Parliament. Amongst these recommendations are calls to increase federal funding for combatting HIV/AIDS, the inclusion of traditional knowledge and Indigenous voices, recognizing syphilis as a modern public health issue and the decriminalization of HIV non-disclosure.
In a spirit of collaboration and solidarity, seven senators from different parliamentary groups and areas of expertise joined me in contributing to this debate: senators Joan Kingston, Rosemary Moodie, Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler, Kim Pate, Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, Paula Simons and Kristopher Wells. I wholeheartedly thank them for sharing their wisdom on this important matter for the benefit of Canadians. The resulting publication would not have been possible without their valuable contributions.
The document also underpinned a roundtable discussion on November 27, 2025 — organized by my office in partnership with the HIV Legal Network — during which experts shared their perspectives about HIV/AIDS and other STBBIs in Canada, and commented on the publication’s conclusions.
STBBIs are preventable, treatable and, in many cases, curable. Yet, they continue to have serious social and economic effects on many communities, particularly marginalized populations. Many challenges, such as the deployment of technological innovations related to STBBI prevention, screening and treatment, could be remedied with appropriate concerted efforts.
Although the Government of Canada has undertaken steps to curb the progression of STBBIs and HIV/AIDS, much more needs to be done. Federal, provincial and territorial governments need to undertake immediate and concerted action to provide everyone with access to sexual health prevention, screening, treatment and education.
As our October 2025 publication correctly states: “Failure to act will have serious repercussions for public health in Canada.” It is my great hope that this publication may inspire others to stop the spread of STBBIs throughout the country.
Senator René Cormier represents New Brunswick.
This article was published in The Hill Times on November 20, 2025.
Ever since my appointment to the Senate of Canada in November 2016, I have remained steadfast in my commitment to public health and safety by raising awareness and promoting the fight against HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs).
Shedding light on these issues — as was done recently on World Aids Day and during the Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment Summit — is of the utmost importance because they deeply affect our country’s economic, social and cultural prosperity. Canada cannot effectively assume its sovereignty and strive to become one of the strongest economies in the G7 if it does not adequately address its public health issues, such as the alarming rise in rates of STBBIs.
The statistics are staggering. During the last decade, chlamydia cases have increased by 49%, gonorrhea cases by 81% and syphilis cases by 178%. In 2017, the number of reported cases of HIV reached its highest level since 2008.
On October 22, 2025, I tabled in the Upper Chamber a data-driven publication entitled Toward Fair and Equitable Public Health: Ending HIV/AIDS and STBBIs, which presents a status review of STBBIs in Canada and 34 strategic recommendations stemming from a debate that took place in the Senate during the 44th Parliament. Amongst these recommendations are calls to increase federal funding for combatting HIV/AIDS, the inclusion of traditional knowledge and Indigenous voices, recognizing syphilis as a modern public health issue and the decriminalization of HIV non-disclosure.
In a spirit of collaboration and solidarity, seven senators from different parliamentary groups and areas of expertise joined me in contributing to this debate: senators Joan Kingston, Rosemary Moodie, Flordeliz (Gigi) Osler, Kim Pate, Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia, Paula Simons and Kristopher Wells. I wholeheartedly thank them for sharing their wisdom on this important matter for the benefit of Canadians. The resulting publication would not have been possible without their valuable contributions.
The document also underpinned a roundtable discussion on November 27, 2025 — organized by my office in partnership with the HIV Legal Network — during which experts shared their perspectives about HIV/AIDS and other STBBIs in Canada, and commented on the publication’s conclusions.
STBBIs are preventable, treatable and, in many cases, curable. Yet, they continue to have serious social and economic effects on many communities, particularly marginalized populations. Many challenges, such as the deployment of technological innovations related to STBBI prevention, screening and treatment, could be remedied with appropriate concerted efforts.
Although the Government of Canada has undertaken steps to curb the progression of STBBIs and HIV/AIDS, much more needs to be done. Federal, provincial and territorial governments need to undertake immediate and concerted action to provide everyone with access to sexual health prevention, screening, treatment and education.
As our October 2025 publication correctly states: “Failure to act will have serious repercussions for public health in Canada.” It is my great hope that this publication may inspire others to stop the spread of STBBIs throughout the country.
Senator René Cormier represents New Brunswick.
This article was published in The Hill Times on November 20, 2025.