Canada's Report on HIV/AIDS 2005

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About the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada

The Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada provides for a renewed and strengthened federal role in the Canadian response to HIV/AIDS. It encompasses elements of the human rights, social justice and determinants-of-health approaches to HIV/AIDS and is an important step towards a fully integrated Government of Canada response to HIV/AIDS.

The Federal Initiative is a partnership of PHAC, Health Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Correctional Service Canada (CSC). Through funding contributions and partnerships, the Federal Initiative also engages non-governmental and voluntary organizations, people living with HIV/AIDS, communities, the private sector and all levels of government in working toward a society free from HIV and AIDS and the underlying conditions that make Canadians vulnerable to the epidemic.

Goals

PHAC, Health Canada, CIHR and CSC will work with other partners and stakeholders toward the following goals:

Goal #1: Prevent the acquisition and transmission of new infections.

Goal #2: Slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life.

Goal #3: Reduce the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS.

Goal #4: Contribute to the global effort to reduce the spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of the disease.

Policy Directions

Three policy directions will guide federal decision making and relationships 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 intradepartmental 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 IDU. Federal HIV/AIDS programs will be linked with other health and social 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).

Funding for the Federal Initiative

Funding for the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada will increase from $42.2 million in 2003-2004 to $84.4 million annually by 2008-2009, as illustrated in Table 1.⁶

Table 1: Planned Federal Funding for HIV/AIDS (2003-2004 to 2008-2009)

Fiscal Year	$ Millions
2003-2004	42.2
2004-2005	47.2
2005-2006	55.2
2006-2007	63.2
2007-2008	71.2
2008-2009 and beyond	84.4

Areas of Federal Action

The Federal Initiative identifies five areas of federal action in partnership with national and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), other federal government departments and agencies, and other levels of government They are presented, along with budget allocations for 2004-2005, in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Federal Initiative Funding by Area of Federal Action, 2004-2005

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6 Several federal departments and agencies invest funds in HIV/AIDS that are over and above the amounts committed under the Federal Initiative.