Category: News | CATIE Blog

Building the foundations for effective syphilis testing in Indigenous communities

June 25, 2025 • By Melissa Morris and Sugandhi del Canto

Syphilis is a preventable and curable sexually transmitted infection (STI) but the only way to know for sure whether or not someone has syphilis is to get tested. Amid a national syphilis epidemic, where some regions and communities are hit harder than others, access to screening and diagnosis is crucial to ending this public health threat in Canada. Syphilis rapid testing Syphilis rapid testing is a promising tool that can help reach our goals but what is it exactly and why is it important? Syphilis rapid testing detects antibodies in a blood sample and provides results within minutes, making testing...

Poll shows 53% of Canadians support harm reduction

May 12, 2025 • By Andrew Brett

A new Canadian public opinion poll commissioned by CATIE shows public support for harm reduction programs outweighs opposition by more than two to one, and half of Canadians want to see more of these services. Harm reduction programs like needle and syringe programs, naloxone distribution, supervised consumption services and overdose prevention sites were created to support the health of people who use drugs. They prevent HIV and hepatitis C, respond to overdoses and link people to a broad range of treatment and care services. With more than 50,000 deaths across Canada from apparent opioid toxicity since 2016, harm reduction is...

HIV criminalization and the Canadian government’s failed law reform project: Another. Incredible. Disappointment. Surprise!

April 2, 2025 • By Chad Clarke with contributions from Colin Johnson

The Government of Canada has broken its promise to reform the laws that criminalize people living with HIV. In November 2024, the Federal Justice Minister’s office informed the Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization (CCRHC) that the federal government’s long-promised initiative addressing the “overcriminalization” (their term) of HIV was not going to move forward. This announcement came after almost a decade of difficult work on the part of the HIV community. Blood, sweat and tears and some lives were lost while we worked on developing a workable consensus statement that would satisfy a majority of Parliament. The government squandered time,...

The Safer Municipalities Act: A misguided approach to public safety

March 26, 2025 • By Sean LaPrairie

The Safer Municipalities Act, introduced as Bill 242 by Premier Doug Ford on December 12, 2024, consists of two major legislative components that target Ontario’s homeless population and people who use drugs. The first part, the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act, creates new punishments for individuals consuming or “believed to be consuming” illegal substances in a public place. The second part of the Act amends the Trespass to Property Act, adding aggravating factors to be considered when sentencing for a trespassing offence, which can raise the severity of punishment. This Bill is framed as an effort to enhance...

Are we really in an “addictions crisis”?

August 13, 2024 • By Magnus Nowell

More than 44,592 people in Canada have died due to opioid toxicity since 2016, surpassing the number of Canadian fatalities in the Second World War. This alarming number underscores the severity of the public health crisis, which has only worsened over the past decade. The average number of daily deaths has almost tripled, from 8 in 2016 to 22 in 2023. The terminology used to describe this crisis has changed over the past decade, reflecting our attempts to understand what is causing the loss of so many lives. Terms like “opioid crisis” and “overdose crisis” have largely been replaced because...

Uncovering gaps in hepatitis B and C services for immigrants and newcomers: A new report from Action Hepatitis Canada

May 22, 2024 • By Jennifer van Gennip

Immigrants and newcomers make up almost a quarter of Canada’s population, contributing enormously to the social, cultural, and economic vitality of our country. To ensure Canada upholds its commitment to the well-being of newcomers and the strength of our diverse communities, it’s essential to prioritize equitable access to healthcare. This not only safeguards the individual health and dignity of newcomers but also nurtures the resilience and prosperity of our society as a whole. Ensuring equitable healthcare means acknowledging that immigrants may have distinct needs due to cultural and linguistic barriers or other social determinants of health. They may also be...