- HALCO and the HIV Legal Network oppose Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, which became law on March 26, 2026 HALCO and the HIV Legal Network oppose Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, which became law on March 26, 2026 | HALCO
- HALCO and HIV Legal Network condemn Government of Ontario’s deadly decision to defund Consumption and Treatment Services; see here for statement (March 2026)
- HALCO endorses letter opposing Ontario government decision to stop funding supervised consumption sites. (March 2026); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ON-SCS-Defunding-Open-Letter-March-31-2026.pdf
- HALCO endorses Consensus Statement on HIV Bodily Autonomy, Surveillance, and Informed Consent. HALCO endorsed on March 18. Letter can be found here (will be released with all signatures on May 15).
- HALCO and the HIV Legal Network strongly oppose the Measures Respecting Premises with Illegal Drug Activity Act, 2025 (MRPIDAA), which risks further destabilizing access to housing and deepening the harms experienced by people who use drugs. See here for the submission (March 2026).
- HALCO and the HIV Legal Network oppose extension of arrest and enforcement powers to transit constables under the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act. See here for the submission (February 2026).
- HALCO endorses open letter to federal government to allow caseworkers to apply for permanent resident status (February 2026).
- HALCO and HIV Legal Network condemn the decision to introduce co-payments under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). (February 2026); See here for the press release in French. See here for the press release in English.
- The Legal Network and HALCO oppose the proposed amendment to the Coroners Act that seeks to replace mandatory inquests for non-natural deaths in provincial and federal correctional institutions with mandatory coroner-led annual reviews (January 2026); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Legal-Network-Coroners-Act-Comment-Final.pdf
- HALCO endorses Law Union of Ontario Policing Committee letter condemning the federal government’s proposed bail reforms: Law Union of Ontario Policing Committee: Opposition to Bill C-14 Proposed Changes to Bail (November 2024)
- HALCO joins other organizations in endorsing No Demovictions’ and the Encampment Justice Coalition’s letter calling on the Ontario government to repeal Bill 60 and for municipalities to protect renters (November 2025)
- HALCO joins other organizations in a letter to the Canadian government to express concern and urgency regarding the state of the global and domestic HIV response. Advocacy Letter (October 2025)
- HALCO endorses letter urging Canada to show leadership in supporting the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. (September 2025)
- HALCO endorses the Employment Insurance (EI) Legal Clinic Working Group letter to the federal government urging EI reform. (September 2025); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-09-15-Letter-to-Minister-Champagne-re-Permanent-EI-Reform-Needed.pdf
- HALCO endorses statement urging the continued funding of UN AIDS (September 2025); https://unaidspcbngo.org/news/with-the-hiv-response-in-crisis-unaids-must-not-be-sunset-in-2026/
- HALCO endorses letter to the City of Toronto, urging the City to cease evictions of people in encampments in Dufferin Grove Park in Toronto (September 2025); Legal Clinics Letter re Dufferin Grove Park
- HALCO and HIV Legal Network call for the federal government to take immediate action to speed up the reunification of family members of Protected Persons who are living outside of Canada. (July 2025);http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/HALCO-HLN_family-reunification-for-PP_July-23-2025.pdf
- More than 600 organizations and individuals from across the province signed the letter from HALCO and the HIV Legal Network urging the Government of Ontario to allow the distribution of sterile needles and syringes at HART Hubs. See here for the letter, and here for the media release. (July 2025)
- HALCO signs global joint statement urging renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity; the mandate was renewed on July 7, 2025.
- HALCO, in addition to co-authoring a letter with the HIV Legal Network urging the federal government to withdraw the Strong Borders Act introduced in June 2025, endorsed a letter from the Migrant Workers Network in relation to the Strong Borders Act.
- Health Justice Program, in which HALCO is a partner, opposes Bill 242, Safer Municipalities Act (the same act was introduced as Bill 6, Safer Municipalities Act, in May 2025 and passed in June 2025).
- Health Justice Program, in which HALCO is a partner, endorses discussion paper and recommendations to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services regarding the approach to banning recipients from Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program offices
- HALCO endorses the letter opposing the City of Toronto’s proposed “Bubble Zone” Bylaw restricting demonstrations near places of worship, faith-based schools, and cultural institutions. (May 2025);http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-05-14-Legal-Clinics-Open-Letter-re-Proposed-Toronto-Protest-Bylaw.pdf
- HALCO, as part of the Encampment Justice Coalition, calls on the Ontario government to rescind Bill 6, the Safer Municipalities Act, and commit to human rights-compliant, evidence-based, and proven solutions — especially safe, affordable housing — to address Ontario’s encampment crisis. (May 2025); Letter: http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Encampment-Justice-Coalition-Letter-to-the-Premier.pdf Press Release: http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PRESS-RELEASE-62-Organizations-Across-Ontario-Stand-Against-Punishing-Encampments-No-Contacts.pdf
- HALCO endorses Canadian Civil Liberties Association letter calling on the Ontario government to respond to the recommendations from the inquest into the death of Soleiman Faqiri who was killed in provincial custody (May 2025); https://ccla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-05-05-CCLA-Civil-Society-Letter-to-Solicitor-General-of-Ontario-re-Faqiri-Inquest-Recommendations.pdf
- HALCO endorses Community Food Centres’ call for Canadian federal political party leaders to address food insecurity (April 2025); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Food-Security-Open-Letter-Lettre-ouverte-sur-linsecurite-alimentaire.docx.pdf
- HALCO endorses the Canadian Civil Liberties Association call for Canadian federal political party leaders to commit to a public consultation on the Notwithstanding Clause within six months of forming a new federal government (April 2025); English: http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-04-08-Joint-open-letter-NWC.pdf French: http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-04-08-Lettre-ouverte-conjointe-NWC-francais.pdf
- HALCO endorses the Interprovincial Employment Insurance (EI) Legal Clinic Working Group letter to the Government of Canada regarding EI and Canada’s Response to New US Tariffs (March 2025); https://assets.nationbuilder.com/decentworknow/pages/5716/attachments/original/1742318589/Position_Paper_EI_and_Tariffs_2025-03-17.pdf?1742318589
- HALCO endorses Ontario Nonprofit Network letter to the Ontario government highlighting the importance of nonprofits (March 2025); https://theonn.ca/publication/open-letter-to-premier-doug-ford/
- HALCO endorses letter to Ontario government in support of safe consumption sites (December 2024): https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQphRv1fZuOTc5ALIiHQZay9ou16OBTXwTolywnJZujyAPpTSj1hEBLwYjITNRBpYKYqfFMHxAU_14V/pub
- HALCO endorses letter urging the federal government to support migrants and immigrants – OPEN LETTER: We Have a Consensus – Permanent Residency & Rights, Not Cuts – Migrant Rights Network (October 24,2024)
- HALCO endorses letter to Ontario’s Premier expressing profound concern over the proposal to invoke the “notwithstanding clause” to strip constitutional rights from individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, or substance use issues (December 2024); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Letter-to-Ontario-Premier-Ford-December-2.pdf
- HALCO endorses letter to Ontario government urging reconsideration of decision to shut down supervised consumption services (October 2024); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Letter-to-Ontario-MOH-re-SCS-closures-October-2024.pdf
- HALCO endorses letter to Ontario Mayors and City Councils about the rights of residents in encampments (August 2024); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Joint-Letter-re-Encampment-Evictions-Aug-14-2024_.pdf
- HALCO endorses letter to oppose Canada’s plan to expand immigration detention into federal prisons (May 2024); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Open-letter-May-2024.pdf
- HALCO endorses legal clinic letter to the federal government urging them to alter their approach to the Canada Disability Benefit (April 2024); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Ontario-Legal-Clinics-Letter-on-the-CDB.pdf
- HALCO endorses letter (January 22, 2024) urging Canada to accept recommendations made at its recent Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council to ensure access to health care without discrimination on the basis of immigration status and to fully implement the decision of the UN Human Rights Committee in Nell Toussaint v Canada (2018): LINK TO LETTER Joint-letter-to-ministers-1-22-2024-English.pdf (healthcoalition.ca)
- HALCO joins call condemning the criminalization of community-regulated safe drug supply distribution in Vancouver on October 25, 2023; https://docs.google.com/document/d/14Hto8rCVp-ATCS2rPSPuZm7Gpvj7_9bLgDF-jJ7Ijdc/edit
- HALCO endorses a cross-country day of action on September 17, 2023, in support of the campaign for regularization (permanent resident status for undocumented people) and the broader fight for status for all migrants. (September 2023); https://migrantrights.ca/events/sep17/
- HALCO endorses letter to Municipal Councils in Ontario urging a human rights-based approach to issues facing people living in encampments. (August 2023); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Open-Letter-to-Town-Councils-Final.pdf ; Press release http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/PressRelease-Encampment-Open-Letter-2023-DRAFT.pdf
- HALCO joins others in calling on the Canadian government to stop harmful human trafficking laws that cause harm to sex workers. (June 2023); https://www.butterflysw.org/say-no-to-bill-224
- HALCO joins the call for the Ontario College of Pharmacists to expand Opioid Therapy Access. (June 2023); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FINAL-Letter-to-Ontario-College-Pharmacists-Regarding-Availability-of-Opioid-Therapy.pdf
- HALCO joins the call on the federal government to negotiate a fair collective agreement with striking Service Canada workers. (June 2023); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/PSAC-strike.-greve-de-lAFPC.-OPEN-LETTER.pdf
- HALCO endorses the Income Security Advocacy Centre submission to the federal government on the Canada Disability Benefit (Bill C-22). (June 2023); http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023-04-11-ISAC-SOCI-C-22-Submission.pdf
- HALCO joins Amnesty International’s call for Canada to stop inter-provincial transfers of people in immigration detention, invest in alternatives to detention, and stop the use of jails for immigration detention. (June 2023); English http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Open-letter-Transfers-EN.pdf ; French http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Open-letter-Transfers-FR.pdf
- HALCO joins call for the federal government to end punitive and coercive approaches to drug use in Canada. (June 2023); English http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Support-Dont-Punish-Letter-Final-w-Signatures-Eng-002.pdf ; French http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SDP-Letter-Final-w-Signatures-FR.pdf
- HALCO endorses call for Coroner’s inquest into the death of Abdurahman Hassan and renewed request to stop the use of provincial jails for immigration detention (March 2023): English http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Open-letter-Hassan-inquest-English.pdf ; French http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Open-letter-Hassan-inquestFR.pdf
- HALCO endorses Health Network for Uninsured Clients report, A Bridge to Universal Healthcare: The Benefits of Ontario’s Program to Make Hospital Care Accessible to All Residents of the Province (March 2023): https://www.hnuc.org/reports
- HALCO endorses call to rescind the cuts to healthcare coverage for uninsured people in Ontario, and to make this essential program permanent (March 2023): http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/OAN_URGENT_HIV-sector-response-to-propsed-healthcare-cuts-for-uninsured-03-28-2023.pdf
- HALCO endorses call to support Uganda’s LGBTIQ communities (March 2023): http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Call-To-Support-Ugandas-LGBTIQ-Communities_.pdf
- HALCO endorse call for immediate action to form an independent provincial oversight body for Ontario institutions (January 2023): Open Letter to Solicitor General Michael Kerzner calling for immediate action to form an independent provincial oversight body for Ontario institutions (google.com)
- HALCO endorses Human Rights Watch letter to end immigration detention in provincial jails (January 2023), click HERE to see the letter. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f85d82966bb203a90d1375a/t/6377f4b3b34a5f47b2777166/1668805812058/Open+Letter+%28Nov+2022%29+-+final+%282%29.pdf
- HALCO endorses letter calling on Ontario government to dramatically overhaul housing-related Bill 23 as it will prevent the creation of affordable housing (December 2022); click HERE to see the letter.
- HALCO endorses legal clinic Inter-provincial Employment Insurance (EI) Working Group letter to the federal government regarding EI reform (December 2022): for English click Here, for French click Here
- HALCO endorses campaign for permanent access to healthcare for uninsured people in Ontario (November 2022), https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfCvpWho2VOUw_TNlXRxmZbHP9Of12CfeEaCHltuictLjXVIw/viewform
- HALCO provides submission to Canadian Human Rights Commission re privacy of complainant information (August 2022), http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/HALCO-submission_CHRC_Poposed-Application-Rules-update_August-4-2022_fin.._.pdf
- HALCO endorses open letter to Ontario government re raising social assistance rates (July 2022): English http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Open-letter-re-raising-ODSP-and-OW-rates-in-Aug-2022-Budget-July-25.pdf French http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Lettre-publique-concernant-laugmentation-des-taux-daide-sociale-dans-le-budget-daout-2022-25-juillet-2022.pdf
- HALCO endorses consensus statement to federal government re funding for response to HIV (June 2022), http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/National-Advocates-CBO-Consensus-Statement_M_Duclos-06-30-2022.pdf
- HALCO endorses letter to the federal government calling for emergency support and services in response to Mpox infection (June 2022), English http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CERB-GIS-open-letter-to-Minister-of-Employment-Oct-28-EN.pdf French http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/SRG-PCU-lettre-a-ministre-de-lEmploi-Oct-28-FR.pdf
- HALCO and others Applaud Ontario Parties Promising Drug Coverage for HIV Treatment and Prevention Medications (May 2022), http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CERB-GIS-open-letter-to-Minister-of-Employment-Oct-28-EN.pdf
- HALCO endorses submission to the federal government on improving Employment Insurance benefits (May 2022).
- HALCO endorses letter to federal government to immediately expedite visa approvals for delegates to attend the July 2022 International AIDS Conference taking place in Montreal
- HALCO endorses Joint Letter Against Immigration Detention in Canada (May 2022). English Lawyers+&+academics+open+letter+against+immigration+detention+in+jails+(May+2022).pdf (squarespace.com)
- HALCO endorses an open letter calling on the city of Newmarket, Ontario to end systemic racism against Asian massage businesses and workers (April 2022).
- HALCO endorses Decriminalization Done Right: A Rights-Based Path for Drug Policy (December 2021); English https://www.hivlegalnetwork.ca/site/decriminalization-done-right-a-rights-based-path-for-drug-policy/?lang=en French https://www.hivlegalnetwork.ca/site/decriminalization-done-right-a-rights-based-path-for-drug-policy/?lang=fr
- HALCO endorses call to the federal government to extend COVID-19 benefits and take action on reforms to Employment Insurance (November 2021): http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/EI.-CRB.-Letter-to-Govt-v.3.-Nov-12.-2021.pdf
- HALCO endorses letter to the federal government regarding a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights in relation to the prevention, treatment, or containment of COVID-19 (November 2021): English Letter to Minister Ng with sign-ons French Lettre en français
- HALCO endorses HIV Legal Network open letter to federal government re drug policy (October 2021): https://www.hivlegalnetwork.ca/site/open-letter-to-justin-trudeau-prioritizing-drug-policy-for-incoming-cabinet-members/?lang=en
- HALCO endorses Income Security Advocacy Centre letter re reduction and loss of GIS for low-income seniors who access Canada Emergency Response Benefit (October 2021): English http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CERB-GIS-open-letter-to-Minister-of-Employment-Oct-28-EN.pdf French http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/SRG-PCU-lettre-a-ministre-de-lEmploi-Oct-28-FR.pdf
- HALCO and others support the HIV Legal Network and Butterfly Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network call on the Ontario government to stop Bill 251 which will place more Indigenous, Black, and other racialized persons, especially migrants, youth, women, and sex workers at risk: Stop Bill 251 | butterflysw (May 2021)
To view more of HALCO’s endorsements please visit our Archive page.