CAS AND THE 2019 ELECTION 

In collaboration with the Ontario AIDS Network, the Coalition des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte contre le sida (COCQ-sida), the Pacific AIDS Network (PAN), the Alberta Community Council on HIV (ACCH), and the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN), CAS is happy to provide this guide to Canada’s HIV organizations and allies on how to engage Canadian political parties on their role in ending HIV in Canada. We also have written directly to the parties, you will find our letters and answers and commitments here.

As you know, we are in the midst of a federal election that will conclude with voters making their choices on Monday, October 21, 2019. This is a crucial election and we have an opportunity to let all candidates, parties and voters know that the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Canada still requires a strong federal government response, and to seek their commitments to supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS in our community. We also require a strong government response to address criminalization, ensure a safe drug supply and meet commitments to harm reduction. So far, it seems to be a close election with no obvious outcome. This is the perfect opportunity to persuade the candidates and parties who need every vote.

Elections are important opportunities to make our collective voice heard and Canada needs a government that is committed to sustained and effective investments in our work. While most of us work in charitable organizations that must avoid partisan activities (exclusive criticism of only one party or endorsement of any one candidate or party) it is important that we raise issues with all candidates and with voters. It’s important that Canada’s HIV sector be a part of the conversation and there are a number of activities that CAS is coordinating on behalf of our members. We thank the Ontario AIDS Network (OAN) for their work in the development of this resource. 

CAS has no political affiliation, but we feel an urgent need to make our members, affiliates and the people we serve aware of the political issues surrounding HIV in Canada. CAS’s members and partners have done and continue to do incredible work. With renewed commitment from political hopefuls as we move into the next term of federal leadership, we can ensure continued progress in the right direction!

Coordinating with our Regional Partners

CAS is collaborating with the OAN, Coalition des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte contre le sida (COCQ-sida), the Pacific AIDS Network (PAN), the Alberta Community Council on HIV (ACCH), and the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) to send each party leader a letter asking them to commit to the following:

• Ensuring that people living with HIV, people with lived experience of hepatitis C and others with lived experiences are involved in significant roles in the Government of Canada’s response to HIV/AIDS and STBBIs in Canada and abroad.
• Reaffirming the commitment of Canada to the UNAIDS objectives for the elimination of HIV by 2030 (95-95-95).
  
• Ensuring the sustainability of the front-line, community-based response to HIV, HCV and STBBIs through the stability and growth of the Community Action Fund and other such funding initiatives (for more please refer to the Missing Millions document from the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network found here).
• Democratizing access to testing for HIV, HCV and other STBBIs by encouraging the development and market availability of testing technologies, including point-of-care tests, dried blood spot tests and self-tests, developed in Canada.
• Ensuring that the Government of Canada does not create barriers to the provinces’ harm reduction public health interventions, including those aimed at preventing not only HIV but also overdoses and overdose deaths, in recognition of harm reduction as one of the four pillars of the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy.

Our goal is to host a signing of these commitments in each region of Canada in the coming weeks. As parties confirm their support, we will then report to our members on the progress of each party’s commitment. We recognize that this is not an exhaustive list and expect that the work of other partners will also be inclusive of issues such as the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure, treatment access and more. 

It is also worth noting that other HIV and LGBTQ advocates, including at the national level, are engaging the parties during the election on many of these same issues; it is important that we collectively amplify the voices and influence of the HIV sector with multiple, complementary activities targeting the parties and candidates seeking public support. For instance, information about the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network’s harm reduction advocacy can be found here or the national Proud to Vote Campaign focused on LGBTQ advocacy can be found here.

For your part, we ask that you engage with your immediate community to let them know the potential impacts of this election and the commitments each party has made to address HIV. Reach out to your local candidates and let them know that CAS has submitted a list of commitments to their party leaders.

Once the responses from the party leaders have been received by CAS and our partners, we will share them with everyone.

Social Media

If you are active on social media, making a post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. helps to build momentum and reach a larger audience. 

It is crucial to create a sense of urgency amongst community members. While it is important to share policy “talking points” like those we’ve provided, personal stories (and photos) are much more effective in moving votes. Encourage voters who are comfortable doing so to explain why they are personally voting in support of HIV-supportive candidates and parties, as well as asking their networks to do the same. Presenting individual narratives can foster conversations about the election, issues related to HIV, as well as engagement in the political process. 

We’re also asking that you consider sharing some of the following hashtags as you post: #CDNpoli #elxn2019 #HIVAdvocacy #HIVote

In addition, we’ve developed some sample posts:

• Will Canada end the HIV/AIDS Epidemic by 2030? We already have the tools, we just need the political support!
• For the first time in history Canada can declare victory against the HIV epidemic – if we continue to support community-based organizations!
• Complacency is our real danger: 6 to 7 people are still diagnosed with HIV in Canada every day.
• Complacency is our real danger: about 14% of people in this country who have HIV have not been diagnosed.
• To end the HIV epidemic in Canada, we need to make investments in 100% coverage of drugs for treatment and prevention of HIV.
• To end the HIV epidemic in Canada, we need to make investments in expanded prevention and early diagnosis programs.
• When will we ensure universal coverage? Not all provinces in Canada fully cover HIV prevention and treatment medications.
• To end the HIV epidemic in Canada, we need to make investments in continuation of proven harm reduction programs.
• To end the HIV epidemic in Canada, we must invest in supportive housing for the significant numbers of Canadians with HIV who are homeless or insecurely housed.
• Funding community-based programs and AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) provides a return on investment of $5 savings for every dollar spent. 
• Canada can do more to ensure that the lives of those living with HIV stay on the political radar, especially when success is in sight.