Updated August 26, 2019
PAN has been part of a national conversation with multiple partners including COCQ-SIDA, the Ontario AIDS Network, the Alberta Community Council on HIV in Alberta, and others, regarding Canada’s role in resourcing for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
We were pleased to see the announcement that Canada is committed to a contribution of $930 million to the Global Fund over three years. We would like to acknowledge the leadership of COCQ-SIDA and Ken Monteith on this issue. The letters below were sent to the Prime Minister.
Montréal, le 14 août 2019
The Right Honorable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
By E-mail : [email protected]
RE: Canada’s commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria — Open letter to the Prime Minister of Canada
Dear Prime Minister,
In 1989 in Montreal, a group of HIV/AIDS activists participated (without having been invited) in the 5th International Conference on HIV/AIDS. These activists did not come empty-handed, but with a manifesto delivered in the name of people living with HIV.
The Montreal Manifesto contains demands that remain very relevant today. I would like to underline one of them in this year of the 6th Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria:
“9. Industrialized nations must establish an international development fund to assist poor
and developing countries to meet their health care responsibilities including the
provision of condoms, facilities for clean blood supply and adequate supplies of sterile
needles.”
We waited thirteen years before the establishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in 2002, and since that time this tool of international collaboration has enabled many advances in the fight against HIV and the two other diseases in developing and middle-income countries. Cognizant of this collective responsibility, Canada has always done its part, increasing its contribution at each replenishment conference.
This year, the Replenishment Conference will take place in France in October, the same month as our federal election. The announcement of Canada’s contribution should take place before the election period, and should also follow our tradition of increasing our contribution to maintain our part of this Fund, which has proven indispensable in the fight against HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
We are at a critical time in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the world, with attainable objectives of reduction and elimination of AIDS by 2030. While interventions have demonstrated their impact — notably antiretroviral treatment which decreases, even eliminates, HIV transmission — we are far from achieving the universal access that is essential to end this epidemic.
Many countries have already announced their increased contributions to the Global Fund and now it is Canada’s turn. We are expecting Canada’s contribution to be between $925 million and $1 billion Canadian dollars over three years. Any less would signal a retreat on our part and would push back the possibility of ending AIDS by 2030.
We cannot let this opportunity to make a real difference in the world pass us by.
Sincerely,
Ken Monteith
Executive Director
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau
As you know, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria has requested a minimal increase of 15% from its donor countries for the 2019 Replenishment. Time is running out for Canada to do its fair share. After four consecutive increases of at least 20% by successive Conservative and Liberal governments, a 15% increase is already a compromise. But it represents a level of investment that we would celebrate and amplify.
As previous Replenishment host, Canada must continue to lead in the fight against these preventable and treatable diseases, particularly since they disproportionately affect women and marginalized communities. Therefore, we feel strongly that any increase from Canada below 15% would be unacceptable and would represent a retreat from leadership.
Let’s step up the fight.
Yours sincerely,
