This history shares some of our formal communication with government ministries, funders, health authorities and related allies and stakeholders, which is one piece of our work on policy change and collective action. To see more recent formal communications, visit the Government and Stakeholder Communications main page. For more information about policy change and collective action, contact our Executive Director, J. Evin Jones.
Want to see more recent information? Visit the Government and Stakeholder Communications main page
2021
Leading Human Rights and Public Health Organizations Release National Drug Decriminalization Platform for Canada
December: In the wake of almost 23,000 drug poisoning deaths since 2016, twenty-one civil society organizations across the country, including groups of people who use drugs, families affected by drug use, drug policy and human rights organizations, frontline service providers, and researchers, have collaborated to release Canada’s first civil society-led policy framework for drug decriminalization in Canada. Decriminalization Done Right: A Rights-Based Path for Drug Policy seeks to end the harmful and fatal criminalization of people who use drugs—which has fueled unprecedented overdose deaths—and protect the health and human rights of all people in Canada.
BC Minister of Health statement recognizing World AIDS Day and Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week
December: We welcome today’s statement from Health Minister Adrian Dix acknowledging World AIDS Day and Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week. We want to thank Minister Dix and Ministry of Health staff for inviting PAN to help inform some of the messaging for this year’s WAD statement, which reads in part: “This year, as we mark World AIDS Day and Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week, we acknowledge the efforts of AIDS service and other community-based organizations throughout the province, large and small, that have worked to connect people to testing, treatment, prevention and support.” Read complete statement
Joint Letter to Minister Duclos – World AIDS Day and Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week 2021
November: As World AIDS Day and Indigenous AIDS Awareness Day (December 1) fast approach, we are again reminded of the importance of strengthening our collective efforts in addressing HIV, along with HCV and other STBBIs.Minister, we are losing ground on both HIV and hepatitis C. This is borne out by increased HIV infection rates, growing outbreaks of syphilis and other STBBIs, and the large number of people in Canada who remain unaware of their HIV and/or HCV status. Read our call for action.
Feedback to PHAC regarding Letter of Intent (LOI) Process and Results of Community Action Fund (CAF) and Harm Reduction Fund (HRF) PHAC 2021 Funding Cycle
October: This feedback highlights PAN’s ongoing concerns about the sustainability of vital “on the ground” harm reduction, HIV and hepatitis C community-based programming. Shortly after the results of the LOI process were announced, PAN conducted an online survey with our members and allied organizations to see how they fared in the national CAF and HRF funding calls. Based on our survey results, we flagged that some geographic regions in BC will have no, or very little, funding come April 1st, 2022.
Federal Election 2021
September: Since early 2020, PAN has been facilitating the work of a national group of HIV and hepatitis C community-based and human rights organizations that meet to ensure that Canada does not lose ground in meeting our national and international commitments in addressing STBBIs. In collaboration with these partners from across Canada, we have identified six key priority issues that are essential in ending the HIV and hepatitis C epidemics, and stopping the drug poisoning crisis in Canada. Read our calls for action in the 2021 federal election.
Joint Response to BC’s “Proof of Vaccination” Health Order
September: On August 23, 2021, BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) Dr. Bonnie Henry announced an upcoming health order requiring proof of vaccination to access a range of discretionary events, services, and businesses throughout the province. Coming into effect on September 13, individuals wishing to access those services must prove they have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine; by October 24, individuals must be fully vaccinated. The requirement, though characterized as a “temporary measure” in the Order, is scheduled to be in place until January 31, 2022. The signatories to this letter demand that the province consider the full ramifications of a vaccine card, or any other proof of vaccination policy immediately. The implications of these orders extend far beyond public health, particularly for people already experiencing barriers to housing, services, and businesses: sweeping policies that restrict access, however well-intentioned, can have the effect of forcing people into isolation, cutting off their lines of resources, and making their lives even more dangerous during a pandemic. Read more
PAN Calls on Minister Eby to Clarify Next Steps for ‘Social Distancing’ COVID-19 Housing
July: As the province continues to make tremendous strides in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the recent positive news that we have entered Phase 3 of our re-opening plan, now seems timely to write to you to express a growing concern across our membership, regarding the health and wellbeing for the many homeless people who have been temporarily housed in hotels. In this we are mindful as well of the backdrop of the heat crisis that recently gripped the entire province – which adds to our sense of urgency with our call to ensure that vulnerable people are safely housed. Our question is around the transition – the next steps – and wanting to ensure that no one gets left behind either by design, insufficient timelines and support, or lack of planning. Read more of our communication, including the response from government
Joint Letter to Provincial Government Regarding Unauthorized Police Enforcement of COVID-19 Travel Restrictions on May 1, 2021
May: We are writing to follow up on the rollout of enforcement Ministerial Order No. M182. As you are aware, on April 21, 11 community groups released an open letter to Premier Horgan, Minister Farnworth, and Minister Eby in response to the police enforcement set to accompany the Ministerial order. In this letter, signatories noted that they were “deeply concerned about the overbroad and unconstitutional expansion of police powers that will disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous and racialized communities.” Prior to the release of enforcement details, representatives of several organizations met with ADM Rideout for the purpose of a technical briefing on April 29. At that time, we were advised that enforcement re: non-essential travel would only take place at designated RCMP checkpoints.
We have since been made aware of a ticket issued by the RCMP on Vancouver Island on May 1, outside of an RCMP checkpoint. Read more
Joint letter to Province regarding proposed travel restrictions and police enforcement
April: We are writing to you today on behalf of the BC Civil Liberties Association, Union of BC Indian Chiefs, BC First Nations Justice Council, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit, Pivot Legal Society, Criminal Defence Advocacy Society, Coalition of Peers Dismantling the Drug War, Sanctuary Health, PACE Society, and the Pacific AIDS Network with serious concerns and questions about an upcoming provincial order on travel restrictions and accompanying police enforcement in BC, to be announced on April 23, 2021.
We absolutely believe there are urgent measures needed to be taken in order to curb the deadly spread of COVID-19 in our communities. However, we are deeply concerned about the overbroad and unconstitutional expansion of police powers that will disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous and racialized communities. Our key concern is with the proposed restrictions on a person’s ability to leave their health-care authority and accompanying police enforcement. Read more
BC’s 5th anniversary of the Overdose Emergency: Time for Bold Action and Political courage
April: Wednesday, April 14 will mark the 5th anniversary of the declaration of the BC Public Health Emergency of overdose and overdose deaths. This anniversary comes on the heels of BC’s deadliest year ever with 1,716 lives lost to Illicit drug overdoses in 2020. COVID-19 has had a terrible toxifying impact on the illicit drug market. Much work has been done by peers, by workers on the front lines, by human rights and other advocates, and by public health. Sadly, we are still so far from addressing this crisis. Read more
PAN Letter to Premier Horgan, and Government Response re: decriminalization of simple possession of drugs
April: As we near April 14, 2021 and the five-year anniversary of the Provincial Medical Health Officer declaring a public health emergency of overdose and overdose deaths, it is a solemn occasion. Over 7000 people have died since the declaration. Last year alone, 1716 people died–the highest number of overdose deaths, ever, in the province. Currently more than 5 people every day are dying. Clearly, despite the best efforts of drug users, peers, front line workers, and public health what we are doing is not enough. It is time to do more. It is time for bold leadership. We urgently call on you to implement the recommendations of Dr. Bonnie Henry contained within her 2019 Report Stopping the Harm. We also call on you to submit a formal application to the federal government for a section 56(1) exemption. On August 3, 2021, we received a letter in response from Sheila Malcolmson, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. Read more
Letter to Mr. Iain Stewart, President, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
March: We are writing to you as 16 leading provincial, national or territorial networks and associations addressing HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBIs, to request a meeting to discuss future funding for our sector. Despite the impact of COVID-19, Canada must not lose ground, in addressing HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBIs. PHAC’s recently released report has confirmed that “Canada is closing the gap; however, progress is slow and there is still work to be done in order to meet the 90-90-90” (UNAIDS HIV targets). It is less clear how Canada is faring with its other international commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals, and the World Health Organization’s viral hepatitis 2030 elimination target. Read more
PAN Letter to BC CDC Regarding Closure of Bute Street Clinic
January: From letter to BC CDC by PAN Executive Director J. Evin Jones: I write to express our concerns over the closure of the Bute St. Clinic, formerly co-located with QMUNITY. For decades the Bute St. Clinic provided essential, low barrier sexual health testing services. The clinic enjoyed an excellent reputation. It served residents not only of the West End and downtown Vancouver, but people from across the Lower Mainland and beyond in search of queer friendly and non-judgmental health care.
Such confidential, anonymous and queer positive testing services are still the preferred option for many. We are concerned both that the Clinic has been closed since March 2020 (due to COVID-19); and by the recent announcement that this will be a permanent closure. We urge the PHSA and BCCDC to fund and complete plans for a new home for the Bute St. Clinic as soon as possible. Read more.
2020
Letter to Honourable Adrian Dix regarding World AIDS 2020 Message
Minister, as we did last year, we write on behalf of the members of the Pacific AIDS Network to respond to your 2020 World AIDS Day message. Community Based Organizations (CBOs) work with some of the most vulnerable members of our society and provide services that are flexible, timely, and highly cost-effective in communities across the province. In many instances, they are the vital link for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in maintaining their connections with healthcare and treatment adherence, not to mention their work in preventing HIV transmission through harm reduction programming, education and support of priority populations. Given all of this, we were puzzled and disappointed to read, for the second year in a row, that your World AIDS Day message failed to acknowledge the critical contributions of PAN members and the community-based sector. Read more.
Joint Letter to Minister Hajdu, Federal Minister of Health
“We write during challenging times, and we acknowledge COVID-19 and its impact on PHAC and the Ministry of Health – but we cannot lose sight, or ground, in addressing HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBIs. In advance of World AIDS Day 2020, it is important to acknowledge the progress made. We have made good gains with respect to our international commitments, but much work remains to be done. This will take a concerted effort and a reaffirmation at the federal level is essential, including sufficient funding for our response.
We are concerned that the current level of federal resourcing for addressing HIV, hepatitis C and other STBBIs is insufficient.” Read more.
CBRC Responds to the Exclusion of Two-Spirit People from BC’s In Plain Sight Report
CBRC sent a letter to the BC Minister of Health, and others, requesting a meeting to discuss the general exclusion and misrepresentation of the Two-Spirit community in the In Plain Sight investigation into Indigenous-specific racism in BC’s health care system. PAN was a signatory on this letter, along with other community partners. While the report included important recommendations to create safer, more accessible, and more culturally competent health care for all, it failed to acknowledge the unique experiences among Two-Spirit and Indigenous queer and trans folks, who face additional barriers and prejudice due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Learn more
Advocating for Safer Supply and Decriminalization with the Provincial Government
PAN has sent a letter to Minister Dix (Minister of Health) and Minister Farnworth (Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General) that detailed our collective concerns regarding the roll-out of safer supply during the COVID-19 emergency – including a lack of a sufficient number of prescribers, a lack of pharmacists, overly conservative interpretation of the guidance and a lack of safe supply, information and supports for people who use stimulants and other substances.
Letter to Canadian Government: decriminalize simple possession immediately
PAN signed onto this letter from the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Pivot Legal Society and the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition – they joined forces to call on the Minister of Health and other key ministers in the federal government to immediately decriminalize the possession of illicit drugs in response to the twin crises of opioid overdoses and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Letter to Premier Horgan, Dr. Bonnie Henry, et al regarding dual public health emergencies
The BC and Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors sent a letter to the provincial government ensure the “equitable application of public health protections to vulnerable British Columbians” during the dual public health emergencies of drug overdose deaths (declared April 14, 2016) and COVID-19 (declared March 17, 2020). PAN, along with many community groups and individuals, signed in support of the open letter to Honourable John Horgan, Premier; Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer; Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Health; Honourable Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, among others.
Letter to Minister Morneau regarding pharmacare
PAN’s voice joined over 150 national and provincial organizations co-signing a letter to Minister Morneau asking for the necessary commitments for pharmacare in this year’s federal budget.
“The majority of Canadians voted for pharmacare in the 2019 election. We are counting on
your government to fulfill its promise to Canadians.”
Letter to Minister Dix regarding World AIDS Day Announcement
“We write in the wake of your December 1st, 2019 World AIDS Day Announcement. There is much to celebrate about the record low cases of HIV and AIDS in BC. We applaud your government’s decision to expand public funding for pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis medication. We applaud the continued resourcing of the treatment as prevention approach, and the critical work of Dr. Julio Montaner and his colleagues at the BC Centre for Excellence. We are mindful, however, that these are shared successes, attributable to the work and efforts of countless individuals and numerous agencies and organizations across the province – many on the front lines of our communities. Staff and volunteers of community-based organizations – many of them people living with HIV – have made key contributions across the continuum of care, supporting efforts to test and treat and link people to care.
We want to underscore the importance of not losing momentum. We are concerned about the current lack of a comprehensive provincial strategy vis-à-vis HIV and AIDS in this province.”
2019
World AIDS Day 2019
The UNAIDS theme of World AIDS Day 2019 was “Communities make the difference” and PAN was part of a community effort working to address stigma in BC. We worked in collaboration with Health Authority representatives to developed anti-stigma messages that Health Authorities shared to their networks, encouraging people to consider the impact stigma can have on health, healthcare access, and community wellness for people living with and affected by HIV or AIDS.
Letter to Federal Minister of Health Patty Hajdu
PAN worked in collaboration with the Alberta Community Council on HIV (ACCH), Coalition des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte contre le sida (COCQ-SIDA), and the Ontario AIDS Network (OAN) to honour the government’s contributions to the increase in funding to the Global Fund and highlight issues for our sector that need attention. Some of these include reaffirming the commitment of Canada to the UNAIDS objectives for the elimination of HIV by 2030; ensuring the sustainability of the front-line community-based response to HIV, hepatitis C and STBBIs through the stability and growth of the Community Action Fund and other funding initiatives; removal of HIV non-disclosure from the reach of sexual assault law; ensuring that the Government of Canada does not create barriers to the provinces’ harm reduction and overdose prevention-based public health interventions; pursuing the decriminalization of sex work as a first step to protecting and respecting the human rights of all sex workers, and other issues. Read complete letter.
Federal Election 2019
PAN collaborated with partners across Canada on a number of activities leading up to the Federal Election in October 2019. Our work was to support member groups and allies to assess campaign information, and to advocate with political parties and candidates regarding HIV, hepatitis C, and other STBBIs.
Community Concerns Regarding Canada’s contribution to the Global Fund
PAN was part of a national conversation with multiple partners including the Ontario AIDS Network, the Alberta Community Council on HIV in Alberta, COCQ-SIDA, and others, regarding Canada’s role in resourcing for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. A letter was sent to the Prime Minister regarding community concerns. Learn more
PAN Supports Prison Needle and Syringe Programs
PAN has endorsed the call for the federal government to fix the flaws in its “Prison Needle Exchange Program” (PNEP), so prisoners have easy and confidential access to sterile injection equipment. We share this so others may consider doing so as well. Learn more
PAN applauds PHO Report Stopping the Harm: Decriminalization of people who use drugs in BC
PAN wrote a letter of support to Dr. Bonnie Henry, the Provincial Health Officer, thanking her for the Special Report Stopping the Harm: Decriminalization of people who use drugs in BC. The report was released three years after her predecessor Dr. Perry Kendall declared a public health emergency in response to the ever escalating crisis of overdose and overdose deaths in this province. With nearly 100 people dying every month, this is a crisis that is by no means over and without an end in sight. Learn more
PAN addresses Canadian Medical Association’s Draft Policy on HIV
Along with a number of community advocates, in the spring of 2019 PAN submitted letter to the Canadian Medical Association regarding the Draft Canadian Medical Association’s Policy on HIV. We are aware that PAN member organizations and public health representatives did the same and we will continue to follow this and share as we learn more. For details, feel free to contact PAN’s Executive Director, J. Evin Jones. PAN sent a letter to the Canadian Medical Association, which begins:
This proposed policy, that encourages and/or directs physicians to involuntarily disclose an individual’s HIV status to partners, is not only unnecessary, it has the potential to create harm by increasing HIV-related stigma, negatively impacting physician-patient relationships, and have ancillary impacts such as discouraging testing and seeking medical care. Read letter in full
Joint Letter to Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General: A Harm Reduction-Based Approach to Policing
PAN signed onto a joint letter, along with other advocates, that was addressed to the Hon. Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and sent in June 2019.
Dear Minister Farnworth,
Re: A harm reduction-based approach to policing
Approximately one month ago, you summarily dismissed the Provincial Health Officer’s urgent call to effectively decriminalize illicit drug possession in B.C., within hours of the Health Officer releasing her report. Currently, nearly 100 people die across the province every month of fatal overdose. Rather than meaningfully respond to this crisis with evidence-based drug policy, you cited jurisdictional constraints in order to reject recommendations supporting a harm reduction-based provincial policing priority and legislative amendments to divert police resources away from drug possession enforcement. You maintained that “no one province can go it alone.” We urge you to reconsider. Learn more
April 2019: New Prosecutorial Guidelines Announced in BC
PAN and other allied organizations including the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network (CHLN) have been in contact with BC Attorney General David Eby’s office regarding collective concerns about the ongoing overly broad and unjust use of the criminal law in relation to HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission. We have called on the Attorney General to ensure that BC’s prosecutorial guidelines are evidence-based, including the evidence of U=U, which has been formally endorsed by Canada; as well as the latest international Expert consensus statement on the science of HIV in the context of criminal law. In April 2019. we were advised by the Attorney General’s office that the BC Prosecution Services had decided to issue a revised policy as part of its Crown Counsel Policy Manual (ostensibly in light of the federal prosecutorial guidelines). Learn more
2018
Updated BC Crown Counsel Prosecution Guidelines and Sex 2 policy
The spring of 2018 saw the publication of the updated BC Crown Counsel Prosecution Guidelines including the Sex 2 policy, which indicates how people living with HIV may be charged in cases of non-disclosure of HIV. On May 31st, we posted a blog by PAN’s Executive Director, J. Evin Jones, BC’s New Prosecutorial Guidelines on HIV Non-Disclosure Murky and Troublesome. In it she described collective “concerns that the policy is too vague and that it does not provide enough guidance – particularly given (the) lack of Risk of sexual transmission of HIV from a person living with HIV who has an undetectable viral loadconsensus statement mention.”
PAN sent a letter to BC’s Attorney General, David Eby on June 25, 2018. It reads, in part,
The failure of the BC Prosecution Service to adopt an evidence-based approach is of great concern. We therefore call upon you in your role as Attorney General, to work to ensure that BC prosecutors do not prosecute people in those circumstances that Justice Canada has concluded do not warrant prosecution.
PAN received a letter of response July 13, 2018. It reads, in part,
I would like to take this opportunity to clarify that it is not my role to become involved in the day-to-day operations of the BCPS [BC Prosecution Service]. The BCPS manages the prosecution function on behalf of the Attorney General. British Columbia is very different from most other jurisdictions in Canada. In British Columbia it is Crown Counsel, not the police, who decide whether criminal charges should be approved.
The Prosecution Service readily acknowledges the understandable concerns expressed about stigmatization associated with an HIV-specific offence. BCPS policies are reviewed on a regular and ongoing basis to ensure they accurately reflect developments in Canadian criminal law, respond appropriately to emerging trends or community needs—including scientific developments—and reasonably balance individual rights with societal interests..
PAN remains deeply troubled about how the Sex 2 policy may be applied, and will continue to work with provincial and national partners on this advocacy issue.
PAN Outreach to Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions
In January 2018, PAN sent a letter to Doug Hughes, the Deputy Minister, Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions to request an in-person meeting to discuss how PAN might support the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions in addressing the overdose emergency. The letter included an introduction to PAN’s work, leadership in the opioid response, and provided background for the potential discussion. Its points include:
- Our membership includes many harm reduction agencies on the frontlines of the opioid crisis which is an ongoing priority for PAN.
- PAN as a provincial network, is committed to doing all that we can to provide support, capacity building and education for frontline workers and PWLE – the vast majority of which unfortunately do not have access to the same supports and resources as first-responders and public health/primary care workers. As documented in our widely circulated Rapid Assessment Report, responses from those working directly with the crisis, were clustered around similar needs related to supporting staff, clients, peers at the frontlines, as well as increased training opportunities, enhanced knowledge sharing, and increased funding.
- Since May of 2017, we have been meeting on an ongoing monthly basis with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions staff to discuss areas of collaboration and for the purposes of information sharing. In late December we were pleased to invite staff from the new provincial Overdose Emergency Response Centre (OERC) to join these standing meetings.
- PAN and our members have been proud to work alongside the province, the health authorities and the BC-CfE vis-à-vis STOP. For the OD crisis, we fully support the development of a Cascade of care (like STOP) and wrap-around services (like the HIV response). We are awaiting a response from Deputy Minister Hughes.
2017
PAN Supports the Call for PrEP to be covered by Pharmacare
The BC government released a statement on December 28, 2017 saying “British Columbians at high risk of HIV infection will be able to receive pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily oral antiretroviral medication that prevents new HIV infection, at no cost.”
This move has long been advocated for by the Community Based Research Centre for Gay Men’s Health, YouthCO, and Health Initiative for Men. Their advocacy work has been supported by PAN and identified as an urgent advocacy item at PAN’s Fall Conference.
Timeline:
In early October of 2017, PAN submitted a letter to Premier John Horgan, Minister of Health Adrian Dix, and MLA Spencer Chandra-Herbert. PAN wrote in support of the request for PrEP to be immediately funded by the government of BC, a move advocated for by the Community Based Research Centre (CBRC), YouthCO, Health Initiative for Men (HIM), and others.
In its letter, PAN noted the pride those in BC can take in regards to advances in HIV treatment and prevention, as well strong community work:
British Columbia has led the world in providing access to HIV treatment and there is so much to be proud of in terms of the work that has been done in this province by government, health authorities, and the BC-CfE and community partners – across the continuum – to combat HIV transmission. CRBC is a recognized leader regarding gay men’s health provincially and nationally and we applaud them for taking on this important advocacy initiative.
BC must continue with its dedication to best practices:
Deeply concerning is the reality that presently more than half of new infections occur in the gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) population. Diagnoses within young gbMSM aged 20-24 doubled from 2012 to 2014, and within ethnic minority gbMSM now representing over a third of all cases.
In British Columbia, Pharmacare still does not cover TDF-FTC for HIV prevention. Without public access, the most vulnerable individuals will not have access to this effective prevention tool. Given this government’s commitment to harm reduction, we are asking you to direct BC Pharmacare to immediately offer full coverage for TDF-FTC for HIV prevention.
PAN received a response to our letter in late October 2017. In essence, it says:
At this time, Truvada for PrEP is still under review by the Ministry of Health (the Ministry), and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (the Centre) currently does not provide routine coverage for PrEP of HIV. The Ministry is working with the [BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS] on this review as well as determining the best available generic drug pricing. Our aim is to complete the review and make a decision before the end of this year.
We encouraged groups and individuals to advocate for this funding sooner rather than later to avoid the likelihood that more people become infected.
On December 22, 2017, PAN sent another letter to Minister of Health Adrian Dix.
We were pleased to see the government announcement about publicly funded PrEP on December 28, 2017.
Learn more:
Read the complete letter PAN sent to the government in December 2017
Read the complete letter PAN sent to the Government in October 2017
Read the complete response letter from the Government
Welcome to Incoming Minister, Mental Health and Addictions and Minister of Health
PAN sent a letter to Judy Darcy, Minister, Mental Health and Addictions and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, in July 2017. We expressed our congratulations and hope that we may work together in addressing the ongoing opioid crisis.
(Excerpt:) On behalf of the member organizations of the Pacific AIDS Network (PAN), we would like to extend our sincere congratulations to both of you upon your appointment as Minister, Mental Health and Addictions and Minister of Health, respectively. We also wish you and your colleagues every success as our new provincial government. It is an exciting and dynamic time for British Columbia!
Clearly, there are many challenges that lie ahead – not the least of which is the ongoing public health crisis of overdose and overdose deaths. We are heartened by Premier Horgan’s obvious passion and determination to address this situation, as is evidenced by his many public statements as well as by the creation of a new Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.
PAN and our member organizations share this determination. PAN is a proactive provincial network of almost 50 community-based and allied organizations working to address HIV, HCV and related conditions. We facilitate communication and the sharing of best practices, and provide professional/workforce development and leadership trainings to our members and people living with HIV (PLHIV) from throughout BC. Our members include many harm reduction agencies on the frontlines of the fentanyl and opioid crisis in communities throughout BC.
Since Dr. Kendall declared a public health emergency in April 2016, we have seen some important policy changes and shifts by both the federal government and the province. The creation and resourcing of overdose prevention sites (OPS) in communities across BC; the repeal of the so-called Respect for Communities Act and subsequent federal approval of five new supervised consumption sites in BC (in the DTES, Kelowna, Kamloops and two in Surrey including an exemption to supervise consumption of oral and intra-nasal substances at Safepoint) are welcome developments in harm reduction. The everbroadening distribution of no-charge naloxone kits through the Take Home Naloxone Program; and the increasing numbers of people starting on, and physicians prescribing, opioid substitution/agonist therapy (OAT) are also good progress.
However, the ongoing death toll and related damage clearly indicate that more is needed. We need an increased level of investment – particularly at the community-based/frontline level – to support treatment, prevention and above all harm reduction. We urge you to consider scaling up evidence-based practices such as OPS and OAT; and to further resource harm reduction agencies and programs that are effectively providing low-barrier services that help to link people to care and to keep them on treatment. Further, combatting this crisis will also require a willingness to try new and novel approaches.
PAN and our member organizations offer themselves as enthusiastic partners to you and your colleagues to combat this crisis. We also recognize that the relationship between your ministries, the health authorities and community-based organizations will be critical ones. Given our decades of experience addressing the HIV epidemic, and with grassroots mobilizing and innovating, PAN and our members are uniquely positioned to: test new and novel approaches along the continuum of care; to scale up effective, low barrier harm reduction services; to engage people where they are at; and to help facilitate consultation and meaningful engagement with people with lived experience.
PAN as a provincial network, is committed to doing all that we can to provide support, capacity building and education for frontline workers and PWLE – the vast majority of which unfortunately do not have access to the same supports and resources as first-responders and public health / primary care workers. We are also committed to advocating for a stronger, more coordinated response to the crisis and to greater levels of accountability at all levels – government, health authority, police and law enforcement and from our own network. We know that these are commitments that each of you, and Premier Horgan share. We would greatly welcome the opportunity to meet with you, to further discuss how PAN and our member organizations might serve to support you in your roles, and in addressing the overdose crisis.
Read the complete letter to Minister Darcy and Minister Dix
Read the response letter from Minister Dix.
2016-17
Timeline: At PAN’s 2016 Executive Directors Summit, one of the two key topics that participants identified as pressing for the session was the concerns regarding the process, outcomes and next steps of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund (CAF). Earlier in the fall, PHAC announced the decisions of the funding competition’s Letter of Intent (LOI) process, and those decisions had significant implications for HIV and HCV service delivery in BC. During the Summit, PAN member ED’s and other leadership discussed key messages (initially developed by the PAN Board of Directors at their face-to-face board meeting the day before) for a letter from PAN to the Minister of Health Dr. Philpott.
Following the ED Summit, a letter containing these key messages was sent to Dr. Philpott on November 2nd, and PAN received a response letter from the Minister on December 13th. The Health Minister’s response invited a meeting between PAN and the President of PHAC, Dr. Mithani; as well as the Chief Public Health Officer.
A face-to-face meeting between PAN senior staff, Dr. Mithani and two key PHAC regional representatives was subsequently arranged and took place in Vancouver on January 17th, 2017. During this meeting, the concerns held by PAN and its members about the CAF funding process, decisions, and implications on service delivery were discussed. Dr. Mithani acknowledged those concerns. The President also sought feedback on PAN’s recommendations as to how to potentially improve: funding competitions and communications regarding PHAC funding priorities in the future. A key topic of conversation was how to effectively evaluate PHAC funded community-based programs and thereby ensure “maximum impact”. Together, PAN and PHAC committed to working together to maximize the collective impact of community support and services addressing HIV, HCV and other STBBIs.
Moving forward, PAN will continue to follow up with PHAC staff at regional and national levels, as required, to best support various member organizations through the transitional and “top up” funding processes. Along with our member organizations, and allied stakeholders and partners throughout BC and Canada, PAN will also continue to call more funding for the sector (including advocating for dedicated funds for HCV and other STBBIs). If you have any questions regarding PHAC’s HIV/HCV CAF or PAN’s work on this critical issue, please contact PAN’s Executive Director, J. Evin Jones via email [email protected].
2015 and 2016
HPV Vaccine Advocacy
Timeline: On January 14, 2015 PAN wrote a letter to the Honourable Terry Lake, Minister of Health,, to request that the Minister consider broadening the current HPV vaccine program in BC to include all genders, and in particular, those living with or at-risk of HIV and HCV. A letter of response was received from Warren O’Briain, Executive Director, Population and Public Health Division.
Subsequently PAN launched an advocacy initiative in March 2015, which involved writing to all of the Executive Directors of PAN member organizations to encourage them to write their own letter to the Minister of Health advocating for “accessible, free HPV vaccination program for all genders and especially for people living with or at-risk for HIV and HCV” as well as calling for a universal, school-based vaccination program for boys as well as girls.
In part because of this work, in July 2015 the Ministry of Health announced an expansion of the current BC publicly-funded HPV vaccination to boys and young men — who are gay, bisexual or MSM or who are otherwise at risk, up to the age of 26. Starting September 1st 2015, this expanded eligibility of BC’s publicly funded HPV vaccine program, for boys and young men at a higher risk of contracting HPV, included HIV-positive males, 9 to 26 years of age (inclusive of those who may not yet be sexually active and are questioning their sexual orientation).
PAN also worked to collate and gather research relating to the HPV vaccine, HIV and gay men and other MSM in the blog post titled: Possibilities for Protection: HPV, HIV and MSM.
On June 28th, 2016, PAN again wrote to the Honourable Terry Lake, Minister of Health to respectfully reiterate our request that BC’s HPV Vaccination program be expanded, to create a gender neutral vaccine program that is truly universal in nature, AND to take measures to ensure free access to this vaccine for all people living with HIV/AIDS, regardless of age, sexual orientation or gender. As the letter states, the Pacific AIDS Network believes that providing the vaccination at no cost to people living with HIV/AIDS, should be an essential part of our public health care system. From a prevention perspective, the HPV vaccine should also be provided on a gender-neutral basis, as a means of both averting HPV and associated cancers, as well as reducing the incidence of HIV transmission.
In a letter dated July 26th, 2016, Minister Lake responded to our letter. In his response, the Honourable Minister notes that decisions with regards to the province’s vaccine program(s) are made on an annual basis by the Communicable Disease Policy Advisory Committee, chaired by the Provincial Health Officer. When making decisions, the Committee takes into account a number of factors, including efficacy, burden of illness, cost-effectiveness, feasibility of delivery and public acceptability. The letter further states, “Recent analyses have shown that a universal male HPV vaccine program is not cost-effective at current vaccine prices, particularly in jurisdictions where female uptake of the vaccine is higher than 50 percent, as it has been in BC since the program began in 2008. In this context, the Committee has recommended HPV immunization for school-aged males be considered only if the vaccine becomes available at a price substantially less than its current cost.” The Minister also states: “I am acquainted with the risks associated with HPV-related disease among people co-infected with HIV; to date, the Committee has not recommended a universal HPV vaccination program for individuals living with HIV.”
2012
Emergency Intervention Disclosure Act
Timeline: On May 9, 2012 PAN met with the Honourable Margaret MacDiarmid, Minister of Labour to express our concerns about Bill 39, the Emergency Intervention Disclosure Act, into law. The stated goal of the legislation is to enhance the safety of first responders. PAN expressed concerns that this legislation is not evidence-based and violates a persons’ rights to privacy and security.
On June 15, 2012, PAN wrote to the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Perry Kendall, to formally lodge a standing request with the Provincial Health Office that we be notified when the provisions are invoked in the province and under what circumstances.
Read the full letter to Dr. Perry Kendall.
Read Dr. Perry Kendall’s letter of response.
2011
Federal Funding, HIV
On June 6, 2011, HIV/AIDS Networks from across Canada sent a joint letter addressed Federal Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq regarding the future of the AIDS Community Action Plan program through the Public Health Agency of Canada. Among other things, the letter requests that no further funding cuts be given to the ACAP regional budget as current levels are already creating hardship among ASOs. Further, the letter requests copies of the final consultation report on ACAP, conducted by the firm of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, be given to those organizations that participated in the process.
Read the full letter to Federal Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq.
2010
Federal Funding, Hepatitis C
In the fall of 2010, multiple organizations throughout BC received confirmation of hepatitis C funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Due to the federal elections, contribution agreements for these projects were not signed and community organizations have been waiting to hear on the status of these agreements.
Read the joint letter from PAN and the Pacific Hepatitis C Network to Federal Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq sent June 2, 2011.
2009 – 2010
Provincial Commitment to Community-Based Response Role in Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention (STOP)
Timeline: As a result of communication in 2009 (see below) with the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, PAN was invited to meet with the Honourable Ida Chong on February 24, 2010. Read a copy of the briefing note presented at that meeting.
Read a copy of the thank you letter that was sent to Minister Chong following the face-to-face meeting on February 24, 2010.
Community-Based Response in the Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention (STOP) Rollout
In the Spring 2009 meeting, the member organizations of PAN set a number of priorities for the Network over the coming year. One of the requests made was that PAN prepare a communications brief for the Minister of Health and Minister of Health Living and Sport, describing the state of the HIV/AIDS epidemic presently in BC as well as outlining the importance of community-based AIDS organizations and their role in addressing the epidemic.
Read the communications brief.
Read the letter and Executive Summary that was delivered to the Honourable Kevin Falcon.
Read the letter and Executive Summary that was delivered to the Honourable Ida Chong.
Read the response letter received from Minister Falcon.