Horizontal Initiative for the Public Health Agency of Canada

The Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada was launched on January 13, 2005 and replaced the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS. The Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS received $211 million in funding from May 1998 until March 2004.

Total Funding Allocated (in millions):

• 2004/05 - $47.2
• 2005/06 - $55.2
• 2006/07 - $63.2
• 2007/08 - $71.2
• 2008/09 - $84.4 (ongoing)

Description:

The Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada has evolved from the Canadian Strategy on HIV/AIDS (1998-2004). The Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada introduces a refocussed approach to the federal role in HIV/AIDS, building on the lessons learned, accomplishments, and the evidence for change demonstrated over the past five years. The new approach will focus on those populations most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic - people living with HIV/AIDS, gay men, Aboriginal people, injection drug users, inmates, youth and women at risk, and people from countries where HIV is endemic. Gender-based analysis and human rights are fundamental to the approach. People living with and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS will be active partners in shaping policies and practices affecting their lives.

Shared Outcome(s):

Immediate Outcomes:

• Increased knowledge and awareness;
• Enhanced multi-sectoral engagement and alignment;
• Increased individual and organizational capacity; and
• Increased coherence in federal response.

Intermediate Outcomes :

• Reduced HIV/AIDS stigma, discrimination and other barriers;
• Improved access to more effective prevention, care treatment and support; and
• Strengthened Canadian response to HIV/AIDS.

Long Term Outcomes:

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

Governance Structure(s):

The new Public Health Agency of Canada (www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/new_e.html) is the federal lead for issues related to HIV/AIDS in Canada. The Public Health Agency is responsible for overall coordination, communications, national/regional programs, policy development, surveillance and laboratory science.

Health Canada (www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/index.html) provides community-based HIV/AIDS education, capacity building, prevention and related health services to First Nations on-reserve and Inuit communities; leadership in international health policy and program issues; and assistance and guidance on evaluation.

As the Government of Canada's agency for health research, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/193.html) sets priorities for and administers the extramural research program in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Correctional Service Canada, (www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/home_e.shtml), an agency of the Ministry of Public Safety Canada (http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/index-en.asp), provides health services, including services related to the prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, to offenders sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more.

A new interdepartmental coordinating committee will be established by the Agency to promote policy and program coherence among the participating departments and agencies, and to maximize the use of available resources.

The Consultative Group on Global HIV/AIDS Issues acts as a forum for dialogue between government and civil society on Canada's response to the global epidemic, including the provision of advice on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic; and of guidance and suggestions on collaboration and policy coherence to ensure a more effective response.

The Ministerial Council on HIV/AIDS (http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/fi-if/minister_e.html) provides independent advice to the Minister of Health on pan-Canadian aspects of HIV/AIDS.

The Federal/ Provincial/ Territorial Advisory Committee on AIDS (http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/fi-if/ftp_e.html) serves as a forum to promote a coordinated governmental response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The National Aboriginal Council on HIV/AIDS (http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/fi-if/national_e.html) provides advice to the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada on issues related to HIV/AIDS and Aboriginal populations.

The Federal/Provincial/Territorial Heads of Corrections Working Group on Infectious Diseases advises the federal and provincial governments on a wide range of issues related to infectious diseases in correctional facilities.

Other federal departments have mandates to address the broader social determinants that affect people living with HIV/AIDS and those vulnerable to acquiring the infection, as well as the global epidemic. A new ADM-level committee is being struck to establish appropriate links and assist with the development of a broader Government of Canada approach to HIV/AIDS.

Results to be achieved by Non-Federal Partners:

Major non-governmental stakeholders are considered full partners in the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada. Their role is to engage and collaborate with all levels of government, communities, other non-governmental organizations, professional groups, institutions and the private sector to enhance the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS and Canada's progress on all outcomes identified above.

Details on Transfer Payment Programs (TPP) >>>