Ministerial Advisory Council on the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada - Meeting of June 4-5, 2009 - Ottawa, Ontario

Public Record of Meeting

Present:

Ministerial Advisory Council:  John Plater (Co-Chair), Jonathan Angel, Monique Doolittle-Romas, Jacqueline Gahagan, Michelle George, Faye Katzman, Frank McGee, Ken Monteith, Gerry Mugford, David Nelson, Anita Rachlis, Sheena Sargeant, Jacobet Edith Wambayi.

Regrets: Brian Conway (Co-Chair)

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC):  Grafton Spooner, Manager, External and Government Relations, David Kerr, Program Consultant, External and Government Relations, and Susan Maves, Committee Coordinator; HIV/AIDS Policy, Coordination and Programs Division, PHAC.

Facilitation and Recording Services:  Doug Bateson, Diane Finkle Perazzo

Guests:  Alain Houde, Senior Policy Advisor, Populations Section, HIV/AIDS Policy, Coordination and Programs Division, PHAC; Tanya Lary, Senior Policy Advisor, External and Government Relations Section, HIV/AIDS Policy, Coordination and Programs Division, PHAC.

Welcome

John Plater, Co-Chair, welcomed Members and extended regrets from Brian Conway, Co- Chair. The meeting facilitator reviewed the agenda, which was modified slightly and approved.

February 2009 Meeting Reports

The Ministerial Advisory Council on the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada approved the Record of Decisions and the Public Record of Meeting from its meeting in Ottawa on February 19 – 20, 2009.

Co-Chairs’ Teleconference/Meeting with the Minister, April 22, 2009

John reported on the teleconference meeting with the Minister of April 22, 2009. The Co-Chairs expressed support of the Government’s advances in improving the transparency and accountability in the Federal Initiative (FI) funding reporting.  As a result of these improvements, Council now has a clear indication of funding for the FI and can communicate that message clearly.  The Co-Chairs also indicated that members of the community may be disappointed by the $72.6 million FI budget and that this information should be communicated to stakeholders with as little delay as possible.  Funding should be provided quickly with a minimum of red tape. 

The Minister was extremely supportive and raised the issue of the social determinants of health. The Minister also indicated that she was interested in behaviour modification as a health promotion and prevention tool. The Co-Chairs stressed that harm reduction is an important prevention tool.

Council recommended that the Co-Chairs arrange a meeting with the Minister’s New Chief of Staff and requested that they be kept apprised of all communication that takes place with the Minister.  It was also agreed that the Minister would be provided with a more content oriented letter regarding the October 1-2, 2009 Meeting to follow up on previous correspondence.

Group Discussion on Council Structure

The Ministerial Advisory Council on the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada spent time discussing its structure, focusing on how to position the Council so it can move forward and provide the best advice possible to the Minister.  It was suggested that rather than providing lengthy reports, the Council should focus on providing concise briefing information and develop a system to ensure that recommendations and information about key issues are conveyed to the Minister in a timely fashion.  The Council is cognizant of its role in representing the HIV/AIDS community on issues such as harm reduction and criminalization and seeks ways to improve this relationship.  Council members also suggested that a project management approach be adopted.

Foresight Document and Workshop

The Ministerial Advisory Council considered some of the current and future challenges, priorities and realities of HIV/AIDS for which it could provide informed practical and strategic policy advice and how it could develop a foresight document that would consider some of the future trends and issues related to HIV/AIDS in Canada.  After a lengthy discussion about the purpose of and the need for such a document, the Council identified that there were some challenges including a lack of clarity about the role of Council and its connection to the policy machinery.  It was also agreed that there are conceptual issues that need to be addressed relative to HIV/AIDS including how the disease relates to the social determinants of health, disease stigma, discrimination and marginalization as well as issues of accountability, ethics, community involvement and adherence to the GIPA principle.

Council supported the development of a Foresight Document and most members agreed that it was unique from earlier strategic planning efforts and the current evaluation of the Federal Initiative because it afforded an opportunity to look into the future and provide direction to the Federal Government and for Canada as a whole.  It was decided that a Governance Team would be struck to explore further development of a Foresight Document.

“Population Specific HIV/AIDS Status Report for People from Countries Where HIV is Endemic – Black People of African and Caribbean Descent Living in Canada”

Alain Houde, Senior Policy Advisor, Populations Section PHAC, joined the meeting to provide Council with an update on the above named Status Report.  The purpose of the Report is to provide a summary of current evidence on the impact of HIV/AIDS among people from countries where HIV is endemic in Canada.  The report will inform the future direction of HIV/AIDS policy, programming and research to positively affect the health and well-being of people with HIV/AIDS.  The study has concluded that people from countries where HIV is endemic make up a unique segment of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Canada and there are challenges in collecting and presenting relevant surveillance information regarding ethnicity.  Evolution of HIV is linked to a variety of broad factors and determinants of health and there are challenges in access to services for HIV+ immigrants including barriers that limit their access to appropriate culturally sensitive health services and information.

In discussion, Council members stressed that there are geographical differences in racism throughout Canada and the study could be a powerful tool in demonstrating how projects for this target group have been carried out in areas where more discrimination is faced.  It was also agreed that it will be essential that the report’s message is received by the populations who can benefit. 

Update on “Review of Advisory and Coordinating Structures under the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada: Update and Input for Pre-Consultation”

Tanya Lary, Senior Policy Advisor, External and Government Relations Section, HIV/AIDS Policy, Coordination and Programs Division PHAC, joined the meeting to provide Council with an update on the above named document.  Tanya informed Council that PHAC has been working on a review of current and emerging needs for advice and coordination and to identify opportunities to enhance or revise the advisory and coordinating committee mechanisms and processes.  Over the next few months, a consultation will take place including telephone interviews and a voluntary on-line survey with current and former Members.   

Council members stressed the importance of considering how Council provides advice to the Minister in the context of the overall process including others organizations involved in the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada.  It was also suggested that input from more population specific groups be enhanced and that cost effectiveness be a key factor. 

HIV and Criminalization

The Ministerial Advisory Council held a round table discussion on the issue of HIV and criminalization.  Council members agreed that it is essential that Council develop a clear statement on this issue which can be communicated to the Minister.  Many groups are facing criticism related to this issue in the media and it is feared that this will create even more stigma and discrimination and force HIV+ individuals to avoid disclosure.  Council members stressed that it will be important to ensure that the Minister takes a leadership role from a health perspective and felt that criminalization should be seen as a public health issue first and foremost and PHAC should take action at the same level of urgency as the H1N1 virus. It was agreed that a work plan will be struck to facilitate the development of a response and appropriate tools regarding HIV and criminalization including the possibility of a national forum.

Committee Reports to Council

Report from the International Committee

The International Committee provided its report to the Ministerial Advisory Council, noting that the Committee has worked on the development of a work plan and discussed Council presence at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria.  Planning is also underway for a panel discussion consisting of a variety of international members of Ministerial Advisory Councils on HIV/AIDS at the next World AIDS Conference in 2010. 

Report from the Strategies Committee

The Strategies Committee provided its report to the Ministerial Advisory Council, highlighting on the work that has been done on a paper entitled “Evidence-based Decision Making” which has been prepared by Huskins and Associates Consulting.  The contents were shared with Council Members who were asked to review the paper and provide feedback to Brian Huskins. 

Report from the Partnership Committee

The Partnership Committee provided its report to the Ministerial Advisory Council, noting that it had discussed the issue of communications and stressed the importance of timely Public Records of Meetings (PROM's) that can be shared with the community.  Several process improvements were recommended to facilitate this process including the possibility of an automatic e-mail to the HIV/AIDS community to inform them when new information is posted on the website. 

Update on “Travel Guidelines for Non-Public Servants” – Susan Maves

Susan Maves, Committee Coordinator, HIV/AIDS Policy, Coordination and Programs Division, PHAC presented information about the current Travel Guidelines for Non-Public Servants.  She stressed that travel claims are carefully scrutinized and it is essential that the guidelines are adhered to carefully by Council Members.  Review of Business Arising Since the October

Meeting – David Kerr

The Secretariat reviewed the status of action items identified at the February meeting and identified a number for further follow up. The Secretariat also reviewed the Correspondence Summary noting correspondence that had been sent and received.  It was agreed that a procedure for tracking and bringing forward correspondence would be developed and reported on in a routine manner.

Closing Remarks 

John Plater, Co-Chair, thanked members of the Ministerial Advisory Council on the Federal Initiative to Address HIV/AIDS in Canada and the Secretariat for their hard work and dedication.