On April 28, 2025, people in Canada will head to the polls for a federal election during a tumultuous time in the country.
Our next government will need to navigate through a number of recent disruptions to the world economy that has included the dismantling of crucial aid programs that support the prevention and treatment of HIV worldwide.
In Canada, provincial governments across the country are defunding and restricting harm reduction services and scaling back on promising evidence-based services that are saving lives.
At present, Canada is the only G7 country with rising HIV rates, with the latest data indicating that there were more than 2,400 new HIV diagnoses reported in 2023, an increase of 35% compared with 2022.
This is our chance to elect a government that upholds and actively promotes health and human rights. Keep visiting here for updates as the parties release their platforms in the coming weeks.
The Issues
On Friday, April 11, the HIV Legal Network wrote to the party leaders in the Canadian Federal election with key questions on their party’s positions on:
- HIV Funding
- Access to HIV Treatment, Care, and Prevention
- HIV Criminalization
- Drug Policy
- Sex Work
- Prison Health
- Immigration
Read the responses from the Bloc Québécois here and the Green Party of Canada here.
We have yet to hear back from the Conservative Party, Liberal Party and NDP and will share their responses when we receive them.
You can view the Liberal Party platform here. Find the Liberal pledge to invest $500 million in drug treatment programs here. The Liberal Party platform does not contain any references to HIV, the rights of sex workers, or relevant immigration policy.
The Conservative Party platform is available here, and you can find specifics on the Conservative Party’s pledge to fund 50,000 treatment and recovery spaces, cut funding to safe supply programs, and institute lifetime prison sentences for people possessing more than 40 mg of Fentanyl here. The Conservative Party has also informed the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers that it will discontinue the Prison Needle Exchange Program if elected.
Find the NDP platform here. Online materials provided by the NDP do not make reference to HIV, drug policy, sex work or relevant immigration information. At the Rainbow Equality Campaign’s online Proud to Vote Town Hall on April 23, NDP candidate Beau Shaw stated the NDP’s support for the decriminalization of both sex work and HIV non-disclosure.
Media Articles
- Conservative platform pledges ban on trans women in women’s prisons – April 22, 2025
- Where Canada federal election candidates stand on LGBTQ issues: Poilievre draws backlash, Canadians split on Carney, while Singh viewed as a queer ally – April 21, 2021
- Where the parties stand on the toxic drug crisis – April 20, 2025
- Poilievre proposes letting judges order drug treatment for addiction – April 19, 2025
- Poilievre pledges to use notwithstanding clause to allow longer sentences for multiple murderers – April 19, 2025
- Poilievre defends campaign against critics, will continue to focus on affordability, illegal drugs – April 2, 2025 (Subscriber only)
Questions for Your Candidates
During the campaign, you will likely have opportunities to talk to and ask questions of your local candidates. Most candidates participate in community debates, and they will often come right to your door to ask for your vote. Here are some questions that you can ask them:
- Will you and your government follow the evidence and consensus that the laws criminalizing HIV non-disclosure must be reformed?
- Do you and your government support the decriminalization of drug possession for personal use?
- Will you and your government work to make it easier to access safe supply and safe consumption services?
- Will you and your government commit to properly funding the HIV response, including HIV prevention and support initiatives, in Canada?
Connect on Social Media
Social media can be a great way to connect with candidates and your community. Here are some sample messages that you can share to ask questions of your local politicians and raise awareness among your fellow constituents:
- People living with HIV have waited for far too long. Canada’s next government must end the criminalization of people living with HIV. It’s beyond time for change. #cdnpoli #elxn2025
- Will you work to end the failed War on Drugs @CANDIDATE? I am voting for a candidate that puts forward drug policy that centres the health and human rights of people who use drugs. Will you be the one? #cdnpoli #elxn2025
- Any healthcare platform must address the chronic underfunding of HIV support and prevention programs by successive Canadian governments. Canada is falling behind and transmissions are rising. #cdnpoli #elxn2025