Canada needs a renewed national HIV/AIDS strategy. We need to engage in a national planning process that recognizes the historic and ongoing leadership of people living with HIV, the expertise of community-based HIV/AIDS organizations, and fosters change in our legal, corrections, and health care systems.

 With this process, Canada can reach the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goal by the year 2020.

Think about it. 

Imagine a Canada in which 90% of HIV positive people know their status, thanks to stigma-reducing interventions like peer testing.

And 90% of those diagnosed have stable access to the medications they need, through universal pharmacare.  

Now picture this: 90% of those on meds can say the virus is successfully suppressed with the help of community programs for each stage of life after diagnosis.

 Getting to that first 90% may look daunting, but it is achievable. 

 What would a strategy for 2016 look like?

It would reaffirm our commitment to human rights for those marginalized by HIV stigma. It would decriminalize HIV non-disclosure. And it would implement harm reduction in the form of supervised injection sites and needle exchange services.

It would provide comprehensive HIV prevention, confidential voluntary testing and voluntary treatment for prisoners. 

A renewed strategy would acknowledge that, in Canada, gay and bisexual men, Indigenous communities, African, Caribbean and Black communities, and people who inject drugs are all at increased risk for HIV.

It would tackle homophobia, racism, sexism, historical trauma, mental health, addictions and the impact of ongoing colonization as integral actions to getting to zero: Zero new infections, zero AIDS related deaths, and zero stigma and discrimination. 

It would commit to finally delivering the $84.4 million in annual funding promised in May 2004 to community based HIV/AIDS organizations for their “essential role” in prevention.

In order to achieve the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target, Canada must determine where we are today with regards to diagnosis, treatment and support, and then plan for tomorrow. 

We ask that our Ministers of Health, Justice and the Attorney General, Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, take leadership in this proposed strategy and center the greater involvement and meaningful engagement of people living with HIV in its creation. 

We commemorate World AIDS Day on December 1, 2015. We respectfully request commitment to the development and dissemination of a renewed Canadian HIV/AIDS Strategy by December 1, 2016.