Canada was proud to be the host country of the XVI International AIDS Conference, which was held in Toronto from August 13-18, 2006. The conference attracted some 24,000 delegates representing governments, international organizations, the science sector, civil society, people living with HIV/AIDS, and the private sector.

Given that the HIV/AIDS pandemic has reached the 25-year mark, the theme of this year's conference was Time to Deliver. Conference sessions focused on accountability and the need for a long-term, sustained response to HIV/AIDS, urging delegates to continue to collectively develop innovative strategies to address the pandemic. These messages and the inspiring speakers who spoke to these issues generated worldwide media attention. The role of leaders and leadership also received a significant amount of attention.

A key focus for the conference was the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls, both in terms of acquiring new infections and in assuming the burden of care. Sessions stressed the need for continued research on female-controlled prevention methods, such as microbicides. Dialogue also focused on the challenges associated with scaling up towards universal access to HIV treatment, prevention, care, and support. The conference also emphasized promoting approaches and interventions that intensify the involvement of individuals and communities affected by HIV/AIDS, including young people and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Federal officials were also involved in over 15 satellite sessions, 35 oral/poster presentations, and some 20 other events. Another important part of the government's presence at the conference was through the Canadian Exhibition Space, which visually depicted the relationship between the Canadians at the conference who share responsibility for addressing HIV/AIDS in Canada. Funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, this was a collaborative initiative between the Government of Canada, the provinces and territories, Canadian non-governmental organizations, and the City of Toronto.

The Government of Canada, through the Public Health Agency of Canada, CIDA, Health Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, also provided significant financial support to the overall conference program and to the Canadian and international scholarship programs.

For further information on the Government of Canada's engagement in the conference, including key news releases, please visit www.hc-sc.gc.ca/aidsconference2006 . General information on the conference can be found at www.aids2006.org .

DRAFT The Canadian HIV Vaccines Plan: Towards a World without AIDS

The Canadian HIV Vaccines Plan, which has now been completed, was released at the
XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto in August 2006. This multi-sectoral strategy began in 2003 with two expert round-table meetings involving governmental, research, community, and international representatives. The Steering Committee, which met regularly to complete the plan, collaborated extensively with experts in the field. The plan provides a detailed description in six sections outlining Canada's role in HIV vaccines research, development, and delivery.

The plan can be viewed at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/index-eng.php#vac and copies obtained from the Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre, Canadian Public Health Association, by calling 1-877-999-7740.

CIHR update and Funding Opportunities

During the XVI International AIDS Conference , 2006 international AIDS conference , the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Infection and Immunity (CIHR-III), in partnership with the Ontario HIV Treatment Network and the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, hosted a satellite session, entitled Community-Based Research (CBR) in Canada: Innovations and partnership to improve health outcomes for People Living with HIV/AIDS and communities at risk. The session highlighted the unique aspects of CBR and the important role it can play in developing local strategies to address the epidemic. Nine speakers from universities and community-based organizations across Canada emphasized how CBR engages communities in research and the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The speakers explored the guiding principles and values of CBR; some of the challenges faced when conducting CBR; and the benefits of this research model for affected communities, research institutions, and users of research knowledge. The satellite session was well attended in attracting approximately 175 delegates and was successful in generating dialogue on CBR issues. A report on the satellite session will be made available on the CIHR-III Web site, at http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/13533.html .

Research Funding Opportunities

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) will launch new funding opportunities in HIV/AIDS research in December 2006. Opportunities launched under the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative will include programs relevant to all fields of HIV/AIDS research, with a focus on novel approaches to prevention. Please visit the CIHR Web site at www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca for more detailed information.

For more information on the CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Initiative, please contact Jennifer Gunning, at jgunning@cihr-irsc.gc.ca.

Canada's Report on HIV/AIDS 2006

Work on Canada's Report on HIV/AIDS 2006 (a.k.a. the World AIDS Day Report) is underway. Drafts have been circulated for review, and an Editorial Board meeting was held in October to provide input into the direction of the report. The report reflects the work carried out under the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada by Federal Initiative partners and stakeholders.

This year's report represents a slight shift in reporting from an activity-based method to a results-based one. This is done using the immediate, and in some cases, the intermediate outcomes of the Federal Initiative logic model.

The immediate outcomes are: increased knowledge and awareness (on the seriousness of the epidemic); enhanced multi-sectoral engagement and alignment; increased individual and organizational capacity; and increased coherence in the federal response. The intermediate outcomes are: reduced stigma, discrimination and other barriers; improved access to more effective prevention, care, treatment and support; and strengthened pan-Canadian response to HIV/AIDS.

The report will be released on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2006.

For more information, please contact Shannon Brunton, at Shannon_Brunton@phac-aspc.gc.ca.

UNGASS Review and High-Level Meeting: May 31-June 2, 2006, New York

In the follow-up to the 2001 United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS), the UN General Assembly held an UNGASS review and High-Level meeting from May 31 to June 2, 2006. The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of the Canadian International Development Agency, and Minister of International Cooperation, represented Canada at the June 2 session and headed the Canadian delegation, which included officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Canadian International Development Agency, Health Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. In addition, the Canadian delegation included representatives from civil society with Joanne Csete, Executive Director, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Brian Huskins, Member, Ministerial Council on HIV/AIDS, and five additional participants supported by the federal government attending.

The main outcome of the meeting was a Political Declaration that reaffirmed the 2001 UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and set forth new commitments. The Canadian delegation was pleased to have been successful in having a a number of objectives included in the Political Declaration, such as more forceful language on human rights and gender equality, recognition of violence against women as a driver of the epidemic, HIV testing with informed consent, comprehensive approaches to prevention, and a reference to the impact of HIV/AIDS on children and youth. References to reducing stigma and discrimination; addressing HIV/AIDS in vulnerable populations; and implementing evidence-based approaches to HIV prevention are contained in the Political Declaration. Numerous civil society members expressed concern regarding the final Political Declaration's for its lack of new global targets for access to prevention, treatment, care, and support, as well as the absence of specific and binding financial commitments.

In addition to the UNGASS review and high-level meeting, the federal government hosted a side event on children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. The session was well attended by a cross-section of non-governmental organizations, member states, and UN organizations.

Canada remains committed to the 2001 UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the additional measures specified in the 2006 Political Declaration and will continue to work with UNAIDS and national and international partners in attaining the vision detailed in both Declarations. In addition, Canada will continue to play a leading role in the global response to HIV/AIDS through a comprehensive and integrated approach based on human rights, sound knowledge and public health evidence.

For more information, please contact Michael McCulloch at Michael_McCulloch@phac-aspc.gc.ca .

Estimates of HIV Prevalence and Incidence in Canada, 2005

Since the first reports of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses in Canada appeared in March 1982, HIV/AIDS has become a national epidemic with more than 60,000 positive HIV tests and 20,000 AIDS diagnoses having been reported. However, many people with HIV/AIDS have never been diagnosed and, as such, estimates are needed to bridge the gap between the diagnosed and the actual magnitude of the epidemic.

The Public Health Agency of Canada's (PHAC) Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control has recently released a report detailing two types of estimates as part of its mandate to monitor HIV/AIDS trends in Canada: prevalence, or the number of people living with HIV (including AIDS), and incidence, the number of new infections in a one-year period. These new estimates indicate that roughly 58,000 people were living with HIV in Canada at the end of 2005, about 27% of whom were unaware of their infections, and that an estimated 2,300 to 4,500 people were newly infected that year.

Canada's epidemic affects many vulnerable populations and the burden in a number of these populations is estimated in a recently released report, entitled Estimates of HIV Prevalence and Incidence in Canada, 2005. These HIV estimates will help to monitor the HIV epidemic; to assess the effectiveness of prevention efforts; and to guide the work done by PHAC and other groups under the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada. The report on the HIV estimates in Canada can be obtained electronically at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ccdr-rmtc/06vol32/dr3215-eng.php.

For more information, please contact David Boulos, at David_Boulos@phac-aspc.gc.ca.

Review of the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada

The Minister of Health has called for a review of the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada (FI) to ensure that best results are achieved given current trends and evidence. The review will be conducted in collaboration with governmental and non-government partners involved in the FI.

The FI review will focus on the following four general questions:

What results should Canadians expect for the money invested in the FI?
Does the FI have the right strategic priorities (areas of action) to deliver the results?
Is the balance of resources allocated to the essential public health functions (surveillance, research, health promotion and prevention) appropriate to achieve the intended results?
What is the best model of stakeholder engagement to achieve the outcomes of the FI?

The review will also adhere to the following guidelines: short time frame; simple approach; stakeholder engagement in its planning and implementation; international expertise involvement; independent of government; and approved funding levels will be maintained ($84.4 million by 2008-09 and ongoing). In addition, all activities currently being conducted under the FI will continue while the review is in progress.

As an initial step in the review process, governmental and non-governmental partners of the FI were invited to attend a face-to-face one-day meeting in Ottawa on November 2, 2006. The purpose of the meeting was to provide advice on elements of the review framework and the selection criteria for an expert panel, which will be established to undertake the review.

If you have any questions regarding the FI review, please contact Marsha Hay Snyder by e-mail, at Marsha_Hay-Snyder@phac-aspc.gc.ca or by telephone, at (613) 946-3565.

Leading Together - Update

There has been much activity surrounding Leading Together: Canada Takes Action on HIV/AIDS (2005-20101) in the past months, with more to come. Leading Together had a strong presence at the XVI International AIDS Conference, held in Toronto this past August. Besides being the unifying theme of Canada's highly visible booth at the exhibitors' pavilion, Leading Together was also the theme of a panel discussion satellite session held on the Sunday preceding the conference. A condensed version of Leading Together was made available at the conference with copies distributed to both Canadian and international participants.

In addition, The nomination process for the Leading Together Championing Committee is now closed and applications are currently being reviewed. This is a multi-sectoral group, tasked with ensuring that Leading Together continues to become widely entrenched and used in Canada's response to HIV/AIDS. An announcement on the committee's membership will be made shortly.

Additional information on Leading Together can be found at: www.leadingtogether.ca.

Populations Section Input for Fall Communiqué

An important component of the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada is the development of responses to address HIV/AIDS in Canada in collaboration with the populations most impacted by, or at risk of, HIV/AIDS. (These have been identified as gay men and other men who have sex with men, Aboriginal peoples, people who use injection drugs, people living with HIV/AIDS, women and youth at risk, federal inmates, and people from countries where HIV is endemic.)

As part of the public health response, the HIV/AIDS Policy, Coordination and Programs Division is committed to developing a status report for each priority population, which will inform responses at all levels including policy, program, research, and strategy development.

Pilot status reports will focus on gay men and on people from countries where HIV is endemic - specifically, Black Canadians of African and Caribbean origin. The status report will identify the current picture relating to HIV/AIDS for each population in Canada, including:

up-to-date information on the HIV/AIDS status of the specific populations;
a comprehensive overview of current HIV/AIDS research;
an overview of current HIV/AIDS responses;
information on emerging issues/lived experiences; and
gaps to inform next steps.

Status reports will help guide decision making processes for future population-specific approaches. It is anticipated that these reports will become valuable resources for individuals and groups involved in planning, policy and program development, research and resource allocation, and to those working at the national, provincial, regional, and local levels within a variety of sectors.

Preparatory work on the two status reports will begin this Fall. At the same time, an evaluation process will be undertaken. The information from the process evaluation will then be used to determine whether the methodology for preparing the reports needs to be modified prior to beginning work on the status reports for other identified populations.

For more information, please contact Geneviève Tremblay at (613) 946-3637.

Web site re-organization

The Public Health Agency of Canada is proud to unveil a new and integrated HIV/AIDS Web site, which can be accessed at www.aidsida.com.

This new site incorporates all HIV/AIDS-related information within the Agency, including the Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, the National HIV and Retrovirology Laboratories, the HIV/AIDS Policy, Coordination and Programs Division, the Community Acquired Infections Division, and the Regions.

The structure of the new site is as follows:

Introductory Page
What is HIV/AIDS
Federal Initiative
Global Engagement
HIV/AIDS Research and Surveillance
Reports and Publications
Populations at Risk
Guidelines
Funding
Useful Links
About Us

For more information on the new site, please contact Shannon Brunton, at shannon_brunton@phac-aspc.gc.ca .

Public Opinion Research Update

HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Tracking Survey 2006

The HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Tracking Survey 2006 is built on a previous research survey conducted in 2003, the HIV/AIDS: An Attitudinal Survey, and includes a number of enhanced and new questions on HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination. Key findings from the 2006 report suggest that stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes about HIV/AIDS and people living with HIV/AIDS persist in Canada today for several reasons, including a lack of knowledge related to HIV/AIDS transmission. Results from the 2006 survey will be used to guide the PHAC-led social marketing campaign, which is currently under development.

Some of the survey's findings are as follows:

Most Canadians believe they would be highly supportive of someone with HIV/AIDS; however, the reported level of support has declined since 2003.
Fewer than 60 per cent of Canadians agree that people with HIV/AIDS should be allowed to serve the public in positions, such as hairstylists, and only about one third agree that people with HIV/AIDS should be permitted to work in positions, such as dentists.
Despite the fact that most Canadians believe they are knowledgeable of HIV transmission, half would feel uncomfortable using a restaurant drinking glass once used by a person living with HIV/AIDS, and more than one quarter would feel uncomfortable wearing a sweater once worn by a person living with HIV/AIDS.

The Final Report of the HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Tracking Survey is now available on-line at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/por/2006/index-eng.php.

Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Survey 2006

The Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Survey 2006 - the first of its kind in Canada and a joint effort between PHAC and Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch - obtained baseline data on the knowledge, awareness, attitudes and behaviour of First Nations living on-and off-reserve, Métis, and Inuit regarding HIV/AIDS. The survey borrowed heavily from the HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Tracking Survey 2006, but was adapted for Aboriginal audiences in consideration of cultural and linguistic differences. Results of this survey, like the Tracking Survey noted above, will help to inform a variety of initiatives, including the PHAC-led Social Marketing Campaign. Our gratitude is expressed to the National Aboriginal Council on HIV/AIDS for its contributions to the survey's development and the review of the Final Report.

Some of the survey's findings are as follows:

Roughly half of Aboriginal people agree that people with HIV/AIDS should be allowed to serve the public in positions, such as hairstylists, and roughly one third agree that people with HIV/AIDS should be permitted to work in positions, such as dentists.
More than half of the survey respondents indicated they would feel uncomfortable if a close friend or family member dated someone with HIV/AIDS, and more than one third would feel uncomfortable working in an office where someone had HIV/AIDS or shopping at a small neighbourhood grocery store where the owner had HIV/AIDS.
One quarter agree that people living with HIV/AIDS are pressured to leave the community or reserve. Similarly, 20 per cent of First Nations people living on-reserve agree that those who leave the reserve and return with HIV/AIDS are not welcomed back.

The Final Report of the Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Survey 2006 will be available on-line at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/index-eng.php in the coming weeks.

Fore more information related to the HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Tracking Survey 2006 or the Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Attitudinal Survey 2006, please contact Maxxine Rattner by telephone, at 613-957-7351 or by e-mail, at maxxine_rattner@phac-aspc.gc.ca.