Canada's HIV response blasted as new infections surge 23% over 2 years
· Toronto Sun
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OTTAWA — Disappointed, but not surprised.
That’s how advocates are reacting to data released earlier this week by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) showing that while new HIV infections globally are trending downward, cases in Canada between 2022 and 2024 increased by nearly 23%.
Jody Jollimore, executive director of HIV and hepatitis C information source CATIE, told the Toronto Sun that Ottawa’s decade of complacency since signing onto these international commitments has left frontline organizations high and dry.
“The Canadian government signed on to these international targets in 2016, and from where I stand, the only thing they really did was acknowledge that people on treatment cannot pass the virus on, and then didn’t do a damn thing to actually ramp up testing, treatment or linkage to care,” he said, speaking to the Sun from the 26th International AIDS conference in Rio de Janeiro.
“It was kind of like sending hopes and prayers.”
HIV infections in Canada on the rise
Canada, Jollimore said, was eager to sign onto these international accords, but had no follow-through plans once the announcements were made.
“They signed on to these international targets, and then (offered) no new investments, no sweeping policy changes,” he said.
“Ten years later, and we see the results.”
According to PHAC’s numbers, 2022 saw 2,050 new HIV infections — that’s compared to 2024’s infection data, which saw 2,517 new cases.
That represents a 23% increase in infections in Canada — at the same time new infections around the world either held steady or showed noticeable decreases.
A report released Tuesday by UNAIDS showed a global decline in new HIV infections, with 1.3 million new infections reported in 2024 reducing to just 1.2 million infections last year.
The same report shows a 42% drop in new infections since 2010.
HIV infections are growing so fast in Manitoba, it prompted the provincial government in May to declare a public health emergency .
“HIV rates in Manitoba have sharply risen over the last number of years,” said Manitoba’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin, citing 2025 data showing 328 new HIV cases reported that year, compared to just 142 new cases in 2021.
Canada committed to meeting global targets set by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS,) calling for 95% of those living with HIV to be diagnosed, 95% of those diagnosed to be receiving treatment, and 95% of those on treatment to have suppressed viral loads.
“When these three targets are achieved, at least 86% of all people living with HIV will be virally suppressed, thus limiting both severe health consequences and onward transmission,” PHAC said in its report.
Canada’s response to HIV isn’t evolving
While Canada successfully hit their 95% targets of diagnosed individuals achieving viral suppression, it fell short on overall diagnosis and treatment linkage rates.
Jollimore noted that the federal Community Action Fund — which funds more than 200 frontline organizations — represents an annual $30 million commitment from the government, and faces a looming funding cliff with no renewal commitments in place.
“That’s a rounding error for the federal government,” Jollimore said about Ottawa’s meager contribution to the fund.
“Especially when you put that $30 million investment into the community sector up against $3.6 billion in new healthcare costs.”
Canada’s response to HIV, he said, hasn’t evolved with the times.
“Traditionally, HIV impacted the big cities — mostly gay men in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal,” he said.
“As the epidemic changes, as people are able to access medications, prevention, treatment, navigate systems, we’re seeing that the HIV epidemic is also changing — it’s becoming folks living in more rural, remote, isolated places or on (First Nations) reserves, places where public health infrastructure is not robust, places where they don’t have HIV organizations, places where they may not have doctors.”
Jollimore said he’s concerned that Ottawa’s current mission in cost-savings will see Canada cutting this funding entirely — a distinct possibility, as no new funding commitments have materialized after the program expires next year.
“Over 200 organizations rely on federal funding to offer these services,” he said.
“If that disappears, that burden gets downloaded onto the provinces, or it just doesn’t happen. You’ll see organizations close their doors.”