People watch a World AIDS Day event in Kisama, on the outskirts of Kohima, the capital of the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo)
Activists across Canada marked World AIDS Day by demanding urgent reforms in HIV criminal laws and stronger funding for prevention programs. They said the federal government must act to restore momentum in ending the HIV epidemic.
The HIV Legal Network highlighted the growing costs of stalled progress, particularly among Indigenous communities in the Prairies. Sandra Ka Hon Chu, co-director of the network, told reporters on Parliament Hill that Canada has “failed to meet these targets by virtually every metric.”
Citing research from Edmonton’s Institute of Health Economics, Chu noted that a single new HIV infection costs the government about $1.44 million over a person’s lifetime. Of this, roughly $310,000 goes directly to health care, with the rest attributed to lost productivity.
New HIV Cases Show Slight Dip, But Experts Warn
Public Health Agency of Canada data released Monday reported 1,826 new HIV diagnoses outside Quebec in 2024. Officials called it a “small decline” after several years of rising numbers.
However, HIV analysis group CATIE cautioned that the decrease likely reflects changes in reporting, rather than a true drop in transmission. Modeling suggests new infections continue to rise.
Activists attribute ongoing cases to the fear of criminal prosecution. Canadians living with HIV can face legal charges for not disclosing their status to sexual partners, even when treatment makes the virus untransmittable.
“The law does not reflect the scientific reality,” said André Capretti, policy analyst with the HIV Legal Network. He emphasized that criminalization drives people away from testing and treatment, undermining public health goals.
Since 1989, at least 206 people have faced charges in 224 criminal cases for allegedly not disclosing their HIV status. While not all prosecutions lead to arrest, being charged can place individuals on the National Sex Offender Registry.
Government Promises Yet to Materialize
The Liberal government first pledged law reforms in 2016. In 2018, guidance was issued to prevent criminal charges when HIV transmission is unlikely. Nearly a decade later, activists say progress is unclear.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Health Minister Marjorie Michel acknowledged World AIDS Day on social media, praising medical advances and honoring survivors. Carney’s post emphasized dignity for Canadians living with HIV, but did not address criminalization. Justice Minister Sean Fraser’s office said consultations with stakeholders are ongoing, without mentioning changes to disclosure laws.
Calls to Protect Harm Reduction Programs
The HIV Legal Network also criticized cuts to supervised injection sites and restrictions on prison needle programs, which could increase infection risks.
Meanwhile, the Global Equality Caucus, including 17 senators and five MPs, urged Ottawa to boost spending on prevention and treatment. “Progress is at risk of being undone by complacency,” the caucus warned.
Canada continues to lag behind many G7 countries on HIV indicators, trailing the U.K., France, Germany, and Italy in diagnosis and treatment coverage. Experts point to federal funding cuts as a key obstacle.
The head of UNAIDS recently urged Carney to reverse Canada’s first-ever reduction to the Global Fund, a major program combating infectious diseases in low-income countries. The government argues its aid aligns with pre-pandemic levels, but global health advocates warn cuts could trigger a surge in suffering worldwide.
As World AIDS Day highlighted these concerns, activists and lawmakers called for a renewed commitment to evidence-based policies. They stressed that meaningful legal reform, combined with sustained funding, is essential to protect communities and end the HIV epidemic in Canada.
