Update – August 25, 2026: Civil Society Organizations Urge Ongoing Support for the Community Action Fund and the Harm Reduction Fund
You can read the full letter sent by the HIV Legal Network by clicking on this image.
Yesterday, Monday August 24, 2026, the HIV Legal Network along with 96 civil society and community-based service organizations (PAN included) wrote to Minister Michel urging the Government of Canada to maintain the Community Action Fund (CAF) and Harm Reduction Fund (HRF) and to sustain these avenues of funding for health and human rights organizations who are working on critical issues related to HIV, hepatitis C, and harm reduction.
CBRC Campaign : 2S/LGBTQIA+-focused HIV funding campaign
In late July 2026, the Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) launched a complementary campaign to mobilize 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities, organizations, and allies to advocate for continued community-based HIV funding (PHAC’s CAF and HRF).
They are asking community-based organizations, businesses, and allied institutions to sign their open letter asking the federal government to End the HIV Epidemic, Not HIV Funding. You can read their letter and add your organization’s endorsement by clicking here.
CBRC is also offering other ways to get involved:
- For individual community members and allies, you can send a letter to your MP by clicking here.
- Anyone can access CBRC’s social media toolkit to help spread the word by clicking here.
- Want to learn more about Canada’s current HIV and HIV funding context? Access their campaign Fact Sheet by clicking here.
- Access the campaign landing page by clicking here.
The Government of Canada’s choices over these next few months will be crucial. Your help can make the difference, strengthening Canada’s HIV response and helping us end Canada’s HIV epidemic.
Original Post: July 9, 2026
PAN and our partners at the National Advocates table continue to advocate for the future of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) Community Action Fund (CAF), a critical source of support for community-based HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBI initiatives.
Following concerns raised earlier this year about potential changes to the CAF and Harm Reduction Fund (HRF) after 2028, in April PAN (and many other organizations) responded by contacting our MPs (see PAN Letter to Elizabeth May, MP) to share concerns about the future of the fund and highlight the importance of sustained community-led funding. PAN invited all CAF recipients in BC to consider approaching their local MP and has been working directly with those who have secured a meeting to help in preparation.
PAN extends its thanks to all member organizations and allies across Canada that have participated in this advocacy effort so far.
During a STBBI Community Partners Call in June, in which PAN was participating, PHAC confirmed that planning is underway to modernize and streamline the CAF, the HRF and all PHAC grants and contributions programs. PHAC indicated that public consultations are planned for the fall and will include community organizations, provincial and territorial partners, and other stakeholders. Community representatives on the call expressed strong concern that consolidating funding streams could weaken Canada’s response to HIV, viral hepatitis, and the ongoing toxic drug poisoning crisis by reducing dedicated support for STBBI programming at the community level.
PAN will continue to monitor developments and advocate for funding models that recognize the essential role of community-based organizations, and provide updates to our members as more information about the consultation process and pending changes becomes available.