Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada  

The Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada is a key element of the Government of Canada’s comprehensive approach to HIV/AIDS. The Federal Initiative provides funding for prevention and support programs reaching vulnerable populations, as well as research, surveillance, public awareness, and evaluation.

The Federal Initiative signals a renewed and strengthened federal role in the Canadian response to HIV/AIDS. It also defines the federal government’s commitment and contribution to the national framework for HIV/AIDS, embodied in Leading Together: Canada Takes Action on HIV/AIDS (2005-2010) , which was released in October 2005.

Previous Updates

The Government of Canada encourages the use of Leading Together to all participants in Canada’s response to HIV/AIDS. For more information, please contact the Public Health Agency of Canada’s External and Government Relations Section, at (613) 954‑8658.

The goals of the Federal Initiative are to:

• Prevent the acquisition and transmission of new infections;
• Slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life;
• Reduce the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS; and
• Contribute to the global effort to reduce the spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of the disease.

Three policy directions will guide federal action under the Federal Initiative:

Partnership and Engagement
Coherent action - locally, nationally and globally - by people, organizations and systems involved in the HIV/AIDS response is critical to reaching the goals of the Federal Initiative. To this end, federal, provincial, territorial and municipal partnerships will be enhanced while ensuring respect for jurisdictional mandates. An aligned inter- and intra-departmental approach will be put in place. It will focus on determinants of health and will have clearly defined roles and responsibilities. As well, increased engagement will be sought with the voluntary, professional and private sectors, international partners and people living with and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Continued strong relationships with non-governmental organizations and community partners will be paramount.

Integration
Many people living with and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS have complex health needs and may be vulnerable to other infectious diseases, such as those transmitted sexually or by injection drug use. Federal HIV/AIDS programs will be linked with other programs, as appropriate, to ensure an integrated approach to program implementation. Programs will address barriers to services for people living with or vulnerable to multiple infections and conditions that have an impact on their health. Those affected will play a key role in overcoming these barriers.

Accountability
The federal government will foster mutual accountability among its delivery partners and will make public their achievements and challenges on an annual basis through the World AIDS Day Report (published each year on December 1).

There are five areas of action under the Federal Initiative:

• Program and policy interventions
• Knowledge development
• Communications and social marketing
• Coordination, planning, evaluation and reporting
• Global engagement
  

For more information on the Federal Initiative, please see The Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada: Strengthening Federal Action in the Canadian Response to HIV/AIDS in Canada.

• State of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic
• Government of Canada releases new Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS

Roles and Responsibilities of Funded Departments and Agencies under the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada

Through the Federal Initiative, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Correctional Service Canada will collaborate with other federal government departments, provincial and territorial governments, non-governmental organizations, researchers, health care professionals and people living with and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS in five areas of federal action: program and policy interventions; knowledge development; communications and social marketing; coordination, planning, evaluation and reporting; and global engagement.

Public Health Agency of Canada

The Public Health Agency of Canada is responsible for the overall coordination of the Federal Initiative, which includes joint planning, and monitoring and evaluation. The Agency is also responsible for communications, social marketing, national and regional programs, policy development, surveillance, laboratory science and global engagement focussing on technical assistance and policy advice.

The main involvement of PHAC is through the Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control and the Regional Offices.

• funding opportunities

Health Canada

Health Canada is responsible for community-based HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and related services for First Nations on reserve and some Inuit communities. The department, in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada, is also responsible for coordinating global engagement activities under the Federal Initiative, as well as program evaluation activities.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, which is the Government of Canada's health research agency, is responsible for setting priorities and administering the Federal Initiative's extramural research program, in partnership with the Public Health Agency
of Canada.

• funding opportunities

Correctional Service Canada

Correctional Service Canada is responsible for providing health services, including those services related to the prevention, care, treatment of HIV/AIDS to offenders sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more.