Publications

Shelters are more than temporary accommodation. They are essential services. They represent a safe space and a lifeline for many — and especially people who use drugs, who are overrepresented among people who are homeless and grappling with Canada’s toxic drug crisis. Shelters often connect people to vital services that are otherwise out of reach, … Read more

This submission to the Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law focuses on human rights violations against people in Canada of African descent, in the context of Canada’s drug laws.

This submission responds to key questions that the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism has raised in support of her upcoming visit to Canada. Our responses focus on people who use drugs, sex workers, people without permanent residence or citizenship, and people living with HIV in Canada.

The HIV Legal Network (“Legal Network”)  submited the following information to assist the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (“OHCHR”) in its preparation of a report on drug policy and its impact on the rights of women and girls. The Legal Network’s submission focuses on the context in Canada.

Everyone — including people who have been detained — has a right to the highest attainable standard of health and to healthcare that is at least equivalent to that which is available in the community, whatever their immigration status. The current system — which allows for indefinite and punitive detention without comprehensive oversight — fails … Read more

On February 12, 2026, the HIV Legal Network hosted two webinars focused on current threats to harm reduction in Canada. The webinar, Hard Time for Harm Reduction: Saving Supervised Consumption Sites, was a 90-minute virtual event that brought together frontline workers, community organizers, advocates, researchers, and elected officials. Together, they examined growing legal and political … Read more

On February 24, 2026, the HIV Legal Network hosted the webinar Hard Time for Harm Reduction: Perspectives on Prison Programs. The discussion brought together advocates, healthcare professionals, researchers, frontline workers, and individuals with lived experience to examine harm reduction and healthcare in Canadian prisons. The event was the second of two webinars focused on growing … Read more

This summary report presents important findings from six Indigenous community dialogues conducted across Canada from 2023-2025. The dialogues were organized by the HIV Legal Network and CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks as part of a broader project examining Indigenous Peoples’ lived experiences with HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs).

This summary report presents findings related to drug policy from six Indigenous community dialogues conducted across Canada from 2023-2025. The dialogues were organized by the HIV Legal Network and CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks as part of a broader project examining Indigenous Peoples’ lived experiences with HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), and other sexually transmitted and … Read more

March 31st 2026 The Honourable Doug Ford, MPP Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Via email: premier@ontario.ca | doug.fordco@pc.ola.org The Honourable Sylvia Jones, MPP Deputy Premier, Minister of Health Via email: sylvia.jones@ontario.ca | sylvia.jones@pc.ola.org The Honourable Vijay Thanigasalam, MPP Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Via email: vijay.thanigasalam@ontario.ca | vijay.thanigasalam@pc.ola.org Dear Premier Ford, Minister Jones, … Read more