Law Reform

HALCO participates in law reform and community development activities that may benefit or assist people with HIV/AIDS.

Law reform activities are frequently based in community development initiatives and seek to involve as many and as broad a range of individuals with HIV/AIDS as possible. Some of our activities are indicated below. Please contact us for more information about our law reform and community development activities.

Some of the law reform activities, coalitions and related publications that we have been involved with include:

• 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 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 and the HIV Legal Network submitted this response to the Government of Canada’s consultation on reforming the criminal law regarding HIV non-disclosure on January 10th, 2023. http://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/HIV-Legal-Network_HALCO-Submission-to-GOC-Consultation-_Final.pdf
• HALCO endorses Human Rights Watch letter to end immigration detention in provincial jails (January 2023),  click HERE to see 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 letter.
• HALCO endorses legal clinic Inter-provincial Employment Insurance (EI) Working Group letter to 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 federal government calling for emergency supports and services in response to Mpox infection (June 2022), English https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CERB-GIS-open-letter-to-Minister-of-Employment-Oct-28-EN.pdf  French https://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), https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CERB-GIS-open-letter-to-Minister-of-Employment-Oct-28-EN.pdf
• HALCO endorses submission to 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 federal government to extend COVID-19 benefits and take action on reforms to Employment Insurance (November 2021): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/EI.-CRB.-Letter-to-Govt-v.3.-Nov-12.-2021.pdf 
• HALCO endorses letter to 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 https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/CERB-GIS-open-letter-to-Minister-of-Employment-Oct-28-EN.pdf  French https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/SRG-PCU-lettre-a-ministre-de-lEmploi-Oct-28-FR.pdf
• HALCO and others support HIV Legal Network and Butterfly Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network call on the Ontario government to stop Bill 251 that will place more Indigenous, Black and other racialized persons, especially migrants, youth, women and sex workers at risk: Stop Bill 251 | butterflysw (May 2021)
• HALCO and others endorse HIV Legal Network call on City of Toronto to decriminalize simple drug possession: MEDIA STATEMENT: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS, FIVE FORMER TORONTO MAYORS CALL ON TORONTO TO DECRIMINALIZE SIMPLE DRUG POSSESSION NOW — HIV Legal Network
• HALCO and others support Ontario Community Legal Clinic Inter-provincial Employment Insurance Working Group brief to the Canadian Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities: Inter-ProvincialEIWorkingGroup-e.pdf (ourcommons.ca)
• HALCO and HIV Legal Network provides submissions to the federal government regarding medical inadmissibility in Canada’s immigration system:  https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HALCO-LN_Medical-Inadmissibility-Submission_April-26-2021-002.pdf 
• Call for federal and provincial governments to ensure full access to the COVID-19 vaccine to all migrants regardless of immigration status: HALCO endorses Migrant Network Vaccines for All campaign. https://migrantrights.ca/vaccinesforall/
• Call for UNODC to ask member states to change drug policies that violate human rights:  HALCO endorses letter calling for United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime statement on International Human Rights Day. https://idpc.net/alerts/2020/12/100-NGOs-sign-open-letter-to-Ms-Ghada-Waly-calling-for-strong-UNODC-statement-on-International-Human-Rights-Day 
• Call for provincial government to amend Ontario’s COVID-19 Clinical Triage Protocol: HALCO endorses call of ARCH Disability Law Centre and  AODA  Alliance to ensure that people living with disabilities are not discriminated against in relation to COVID-related care.  https://archdisabilitylaw.ca/resource/arch-and-aoda-alliance-submit-open-letter-to-government-on-the-need-for-a-non-discriminatory-clinical-triage-protocol/
• HALCO calls for stronger privacy protections in Ontario: HALCO made a submission in response to the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services’ (the “Ministry”) consultation on the strengthening of privacy protections in Ontario (2020Oct): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/HALCO-Submission-Ministry-of-Govt-and-Consumer-Services-Privacy-Consultation-Oct-16-2020.pdf.
• Call for the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) to ensure that tenants have access to justice: HALCO joins many other community legal clinics in Ontario in proposing a number of urgent reforms to the LTB’s operations during  the COVID-19 pandemic (2020Oct): English https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/LTB_Report_Final_2020-09-13-00913_EN-002.pdf; French https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/LTB_Report_Final_2020-09-13-FR.pdf.
• Call for the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board to consider the impact of  COVID-19 before ordering any evictions: HALCO joins the call on the Landlord and Tenant Board to take into consideration all pandemic-related circumstances before any eviction orders are made (2020Sept): English https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Proposal-for-Changes-to-the-Interpretation-Guidelines-of-the-LTB-re-COVI….pdf; French https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Propositions-de-modification-des-Lignes-directrices-d%E2%80%99interpr%C3%A9tation-LTB….pdf.
• Call for a just recovery for all: HALCO joins the Just Recovery Ontario campaign in calling on the Federal and Ontario governments to implement policies to ensure a just recovery for all (2020Sept): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Just-Recovery-Ontario-Press-Release-Final.pdf.
• Call for greater racial representation amongst federal court judges: HALCO joins others in the legal community in calling on the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of Canada to take immediate action to rectify the historic and stark racial imbalance among Canada’s federal court judges by appointing Black, Indigenous and People of Colour to federal courts (2020Sept): English https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/EN-Press-Release-002.pdf; French https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FR-communique%CC%81-de-presse.pdf. Letter to the Hon.David Lemity in English https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/EN-Letter-to-the-Min-of-Justice.pdf; French https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/FR-Lettre-au-Min-de-a-Justice.pdf.
• Call for immigration status for all: HALCO joins the Migrant Rights Network and many others in calling on the federal government to grant all migrants, refugees, students, workers and undocumented people in the country full immigration status (2020Sept): https://migrantrights.ca/status-for-all/.
• Call for the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) to protect people from COVID-19: HALCO joins many others in requesting that the IRB immediately cease scheduling all in-person and videoconference hearings until health and safety measures are put in place (2020Aug): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Open-Letter-re-COVID-19-FINAL-.pdf.
• Call for the government of Alberta to continue funding supervised consumption services: HALCO joins many others in voicing their objections to the government of Alberta’s plan to cut all funding for ARCHES, which provides supervised consumption services to the Lethbridge community (2020Aug): http://www.aidslaw.ca/site/open-letter-to-premier-kenney-supervised-consumption-services-in-lethbridge-alberta/?lang=en.
• Call for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to reduce the spread of COVID-19: HALCO joins others in the legal community in expressing concern regarding the inadequate COVID-19 protocols at the CBSA’s Greater Toronto Area Region Enforcement and Intelligence Operations Division (EIOD), and calling on the CBSA to implement measures to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 at EIOD (2020Aug): open letter https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020-08-24-Open-Letter-to-CBSA-COVID-19-protocols-at-EIOD.pdf; addendum to letter https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020-08-26-Open-Letter-to-CBSA-Addendum-with-additional-signatories.pdf. The CBSA’s response https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Granton-et-al-Response-2020-09-01.pdf.
• Call for the federal government to protect the health and safety of sex workers: HALCO joins 12 other organizations in calling on the federal government to refrain from enforcing criminal laws related to sex work (2020July): English https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CASWLR-federal-directive-sex-work-July-2020.pdf; French https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/F-CASWLR-federal-sex-work-directive-July-20202.pdf.
• Call for the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC) to respect the human rights of incarcerated indigenous persons: HALCO joins more than 70 other organizations in calling on the OCDC to accommodate the spiritual and cultural needs of incarcerated Indigenous persons (2020July):  https://cp-ep.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Press-Release_Indigenous-Justice-OCDC_30-July-2020_to-media.pdf.
• Call for the protection of undocumented and migrant workers: HALCO joins the Migrant Rights Network and 39 other organizations in calling on all levels of government to ensure that the response to COVID-19  leaves nobody behind, including migrant and undocumented workers (2020July): https://migrantrights.ca/covid19/.
• Call for the federal government to support 2SLGBTQI communities amid COVID-19: HALCO joins almost 100 organizations across Canada in calling on the federal government to ensure that 2SLGBTQI communities are included in actions they undertake to address the COVID-19 public health crisis (2020June): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Letter_-2SLGBTQI-Organizations-Call-on-Government-of-Canada-for-Funding-amid-COVID-19-2020Pandemic2020June-.pdf.
• Call for Ontario to protect tenants: HALCO joins 37 other organizations in calling on the province of Ontario to not move forward with Bill 184 (Protection Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act, 2020) which include changes to the Residential Tenancies Act that will impoverish and displace tenants (2020June): https://www.acto.ca/bill-184-wrong-bill-wrong-time/.
• Call for the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre to respect the rights of Muslim people in jail: HALCO joins 59 other organizations in calling on the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre to respect the rights of Muslim people in jail during Ramadan (2020May): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20-05-07-cpep-ramadan-accommodations-v3.pdf.
• Call for the federal government to protect the health of people who use drugs: HALCO joins 52 other organizations in calling on the federal government to protect the health of people who use drugs during COVID-19 by decriminalizing simple drug possession (2020May): English https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Drug-Decriminalization-Open-Letter-to-Government-_-2020May-13.pdf; French https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/F-Drug-Decriminalization-Open-Letter-to-Government-_-2020May-13-French.pdf.
• Call for the federal government to implement pharmacare: HALCO joins 174 other organizations from across the country in calling on the federal government to implement a universal public pharmacare program that covers essential medicines for everyone in Canada (2020May): http://www.healthcoalition.ca/pharmacare-now-more-urgent-than-ever/.
• Call for Ontario to implement COVID-19 plan for people in group living settings: HALCO joins 137 other organizations and 400 individuals in calling on the province to act immediately to address access-to-care gaps among people living in congregate settings (e.g., shelters, group homes, prisons, assisted living) (2020April): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Ontario-needs-Covid-plan-for-people-in-group-settings-2020April-Lettertoprovince.pdf.
• Street Nurses Network and allies demand immediate measures to prevent deaths related to COVID-19: HALCO joins 53 other organizations calling on the City to quickly implement measures to safeguard the safety of people who are homeless and/or use drugs during the time of COVID-19 (2020April): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfR4f1IfS0v7VBcD4PAWKrtbHpqDfoUQAooARsedD1O37ro/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2yVcZoOxXDCozZjMBz1PbQ5NS65RiRDHbrIuFtMaRG3BDEodV24uxEj0I.
• Ontario Clinical Triage Protocol must respect human rights for all: HALCO endorsed a letter to the government of Ontario expressing grave concern with Ontario Health’s draft Clinical Triage Protocol for the COVID-19 Pandemic. The letter calls on Ontario to safeguard human rights by adhering to the following recommendations: (i) persons with disabilities cannot be deprioritized for critical care on the basis of their disability; (ii) the Triage Protocol must clearly state that clinical judgment must not be informed by bias, stereotypes, or ableism; (iii) persons with disabilities cannot be deprioritized for critical care based on supports they receive for daily living; and (iv) the Triage Protocol must ensure that people with disabilities receive necessary disability-related accommodations (2020April): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ON-Triage-Open-Letter-FINAL-April-7-2020-Orgs2.pdf. The Ontario government responded with an undated open letter indicating that the Triage Protocol has not been approved and Ontario Health has been directed to consult with the Ontario Human Rights Commission and others (2020April): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Triage-Letter_eng2.pdf.
• Call for Ontario to protect the health of prisoners: HALCO joins call for Ontario to put in place measures to protect the health and safety of people in provincial jails and detention centres (2020April): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Protecting-Prisoner-Health-Open-Letter-2020April.pdf. The Ontario government’s response (2020July):  https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/EX-2020July-851_SG-Reply-0021.pdf. Number of COVID-19 cases in Ontario’s Correctional Institutions (2020July): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/EX-2020July-851_Enclosure1.pdf.
• Call for the Province to ensure an equitable approach to healthcare: 190 organizations, including HALCO, along with 1612 individuals, call on the Province to implement a health equity approach immediately by (i) mandating the collection and use of socio-demographic and race-based data in health and social services now as it relates to COVID-19; (ii) ensuring diverse and racialized voices on provincial and regional decision-making tables, including bioethics and critical care tables; (iii) prioritizing personal protective equipment (PPE), testing and funding for health services that take an anti-oppressive approach and provide trusted, evidence-driven healthcare to populations facing discrimination; and (iv) including regular updates on health equity data and progress in daily COVID-19 press conferences and situation reports (2020April): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/OL_Data_Collection_Apr15.pdf.
• Call for the Province to expand access to safe supplies for drug users in light of COVID-19: HALCO has joined 111 individuals and 692 other organizations in calling on the Deputy Minister and Minister of Health, Christine Elliott, and the Associate Minister, Mental Health and Addictions, Michael Tibolo, to contain the opiod crisis during the time of COVID-19 (2020April): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Letter_SafeSupply_MOH_MHA_Apr3.docx-2.pdf.
• Civil Society Statement on COVID-19 and people who use drugs: This statement, endorsed by over 300 organizations (including HALCO) and individuals, was developed by International Network of People who Use Drugs in collaboration with the International Drug Policy Consortium and Harm Reduction International. A PDF copy of this statement with a list of endorsements, as well as translations in Spanish, French and Russian, are available for download here (2020April): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/COVID-PWUD-Statement2020April.pdf.
• Open letter to Ontario calling for meaningful income security for all Ontarians: 150 community organizations, including HALCO, call on the Minister of Community and Social Services to ensure that all Ontarians have access to meaningful income security (2020April): http://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/open-letter-from-more-than-140-community-organizations-lettre-ouverte-de-plus-de-130-organismes-communautaires/.
• Change in ODSP Definition of Disability: Defend Disability letter to Minister of Children, Community and Social Services (2019Oct): HALCO and 80 other organizations endorsed the letter https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DefendDisability-Letter2019Oct2.pdf.
• Solidarity Statement for Sex Workers’ Rights: HALCO endorses the statement: https://secure.actioncanadashr.org/solidarity-sex-workers-rights.
• United Nations Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: Submission by HALCO and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network (2019Oct): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UN-CEDAW-sub2019Oct.pdf.
• Why HIV testing needs informed consent: Healthy Debate article by HALCO and Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network (2019Sept): https://www.halco.org/2019/news/hiv-testing-healthydebate2019sept.
• Ontario’s new 2019 Health and Physical Education Curriculum (sex education): HALCO statement (2019Aug): https://www.halco.org/2019/news/new-sex-ed-2019aug.
• Right to Housing Toronto: HALCO is a supporter:https://right2housingto.ca/supporters/.
• Correctional Service of Canada must fix fundamental flaws with prison needle exchange program, statement by 70 organizations, including HALCO (2019Aug): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PrisonNeedleStatement2019Aug.pdf.
• HIV decriminalization changes welcome but not enough, Lawyer’s Daily article by HALCO’s Ryan Peck (2019July): https://www.halco.org/2019/news/decrim-lawyerdaily-2019july.
• Response to Canada’s House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights Report on Criminalization of People Living With HIV: HALCO’s response to the report (2019June): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/HIV-Crim-Cttee-2019June-response.pdf.
• Amendments to the Mandatory Blood Testing Act in Bill 68 (Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act, 2019): submissions by HALCO, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and other organizations to Ontario Standing Committee on Justice Policy regarding involuntary testing for HIV and other illnesses (2019March): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Bill68_subs-2019Mar.pdf.
• OHIP+ Proposed Amendments: HALCO submission to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (2019Jan31):  https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/OHIP_HALCO_sub-2019Jan.pdf.
• Landmark Patient Rights Case at Court of Appeal for Ontario: whether doctors can put their personal religious beliefs ahead of patients’ rights – HALCO, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health (CPATH) intervening in landmark case at Court of Appeal for Ontario (2019Jan): Statement by interveners https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Relig-Docs-Statement-2019Jan18.pdf; Déclaration (Français) : https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Relig-Docs-Statement2019Jan18-FR.pdf. Court of Appeal decision (2019May): https://www.ontariocourts.ca/decisions/2019/2019ONCA0393.htm.
• Reverting to an Outdated Sexual Education Curriculum Violates Charter Rights of Ontarians (2019Jan8): statement by interveners HALCO and Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Sex-Educ-Statement-2019Jan8.pdf. See our August 2019 Statement about the new curriculum:  https://www.halco.org/2019/news/new-sex-ed-2019aug.
• World AIDS Day 2018 Statement to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Canada, Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization (CCRHC): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CCRHC-WAD-stmt-2018Nov.pdf; Français : Journée mondiale du sida 2018 Déclaration adressée à la procureure générale et ministre de la Justice du Canada,Coalition canadienne pour réformer la criminalisation du VIH (CCRCV) https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CCRCV-WAD-Stmt-2018Nov-FR.pdf.
• Canada must adopt a human rights-based approach to drug policy: statement by HALCO and other organizations (2018Nov): English https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CDSS-Stmt-2018Nov_EN.pdf; Français: Le Canada doit adopter une approche de droits humain aux politiques sur les drogues Déclaration https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CDSS-SCDS-Stmt-2018Nov_FR.pdf.
• Open letter to Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care about the newly proposed “Consumption and Treatment Services” model: HALCO, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Nurses Association, Canadian Public Health Association and Toronto Overdose Prevention Society (2018Oct). English www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ont-CTS-2018Oct.pdf; Français www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Ont-CTS-2018Oct_FR.pdf.
• Five Principles for an Effective and Compassionate Social Assistance System: open letter to Honourable Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and to all Members of Ontario Provincial Parliament: signed by HALCO, organizations and individuals (2018Oct) https://incomesecurity.org/policy-advocacy/open-letter-to-minister-macleod-100-day-review/.
• Social Assistance Reform: open letter to Ontario Government opposing the rollbacks of income security improvements and cancellation of the basic income pilot: signed by HALCO, 30 other health-focused organizations and 800 healthcare providers (2018Sept4) www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/SA-reform-2018Sept.pdf.
• Landlord and Tenant Board Consultation on Proposed Amendments to Rules of Procedure: HALCO submissions (2018Sept). www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/LTB-HALCO-Sub2018Sept.pdf.
• Bill C-75 – repeal of Criminal Code laws used against LGBTQ2S+ people and sex workers:  Joint Statement by HALCO and many others (2018Sept). www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/C75-Statement-2018Sept.pdf
• Supervised Consumption and Overdose Prevention Sites: HALCO signed open letter to Ontario Premier and Health Minister supporting the sites. You can access the letter on the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network website: http://www.aidslaw.ca/site/scs-ops-open-letter-ford-elliott/?lang=en.
• Challenging the deduction of Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D) from private insurance long-term disability benefits:  HALCO, the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) and ARCH Disability Law Centre intervened in this important case at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (2018June). More information adn coalition submission:  www.halco.org/2018/news/cpp-d-deduction-from-ltd.
• Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) Draft Accommodation/Accessibility Transfer Policy: HALCO staff met with senior TCHC staff and provided written submissions (2018June):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/TCHC-HALCO-Sub2018June.pdf.
• Health care in provincial correctional facilities: Submission by HALCO, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Prisoners with HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN) (2018May) www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/CorrectionalHealthCare-Submission2018May.pdf.
• Trusts and Social Assistance Case at Supreme Court of Canada:  HALCO and the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) intervened at the Supreme Court of Canada to ensure that the Supreme Court’s decision does not have a negative impact on people in receipt of social benefits (April 2018) – factum (2018Apr): https://www.halco.org/2018/news/trusts-and-social-assistance-scc-2018. The Court agreed and you can read the January 2019 decision here: https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/17473/index.do.
• Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act (Canada’s Bill C-66 An Act to establish a procedure for expunging certain historically unjust convictions and to make related amendments to other Acts): HALCO and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network submitted a brief arguing that the Act, which purports to address criminal offences used against LGBTQ2S people, does not address the full range of laws that unjustly and disproportionately affected and continue to affect LGBTQ2S+ people and inhibit their access to HIV prevention, care, treatment and support (2018Apr) www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Bill_C-66-Submission2018Apr.pdf.
• Excessive Demand/Medical Inadmissibility:  HALCO and Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network Brief statement on federal government announcement (2018 Apr): www.halco.org/2018/news/medical-inadmissibility.
• Online Reputation: HALCO and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network submitted a brief in response to the call for comments by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada on its Draft Position on Online Reputation (2018Apr) www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/OnlineReputation-OPC-2018Apr.pdf.
• Ontario Proposed Fee Waivers (Photo Card and Birth Certificate) Act (Bill 26): HALCO letter of support (2018 Mar) www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Fee-Waivers-Act.pdf.
• Decriminalize Sex Work: Support Resolution #2764 – Open letter to the Liberal Party of Canada (2018Mar): signed by HALCO and many other organizations www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Sex-Work-letter_2018Mar.pdf.
• Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP) deputation for independent external review of Toronto Police (2018Mar): supported by HALCO  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ASAAP-Police-Review2018Mar.pdf.
• Ontario Superior Court matter regarding patient rights versus religious physician rights: HALCO, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, and the Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health jointly intervened – Intervenor Factum (2018Feb):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Intervenor-Factum_2017May.pdf. For more information please see www.halco.org/2018/news/ontario-court-confirms-patient-rights.
• Campaign for the Abolition of Solitary Confinement: HALCO endorsed open letter to Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety (2018Jan): http://abolishsolitary.ca/2018/02/01/to-ralph-goodale-30-jan-2018/.
• HALCO among 100 organizations concerned with health to sign open Letter to Canadian, Mexican and U.S. Ministers of Health and Trade urging that the NAFTA Renegotiation not undermine access to affordable medicines (2018Jan): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/NAFTA-Letter-2018Jan.pdf.
• Ontario Income Security Roadmap for Change:  HALCO submission (2018Jan) www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/HALCO_submissions_Income_Security_Roadmap_2018Jan.pdf.
• Ontario Human Rights Code Amendment Act (Bill 164):  HALCO and a coalition of community organizations supported proposed amendments to expand human rights protections for vulnerable Ontarians – submissions (2017Dec):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Human_Rights_Amend-Submissions-2017Dec.pdf.
• Medical Inadmissibility of Immigrants: HALCO / Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network joint submissions to support repeal (2017Nov): www.halco.org/2018/news/medical-inadmissibility-of-immigrants-halco-and-legal-network-make-submissions-to-support-repeal.
• Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization (CCRHC www.hivcriminalization.ca/) / Coalition canadienne pour réformer la criminalisation du VIH (CCRCV www.criminalisationvih.ca/) : including survey, petition, consensus statement, etc.:
  • Community Consensus Statement to End Unjust HIV Criminalization (2017Nov): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Consensus-Stmt-2017_Eng.pdf
  • Consensus Statement Frequently Asked Questions 2017: www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Consensus-Stmt-FAQ_2017-En.pdf
  • Déclaration de consensus communautaire pour cesser la criminalization injuste du VIH (2017nov): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Concensus-Stmt-2017-Fr.pdf
  • Déclaration de consensus communautaire – foire aux questions 2017 : www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Consensus-Stmt-FAQ-2017-Fr.pdf
• Proposed cuts to Legal Aid Ontario refugee and immigration law services -please also see our What’s New post. HALCO letters (2017Jun): HALCO letter to Legal Aid Ontario; HALCO letter to the Honourable Yasir Naqvi, Attorney General of Ontario; HALCO letter to the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
• Submission to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada on Medical Inadmissibility – by HALCO, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and La Coalition des organismes communautaires québécois de lutte contre le sida (COCQ-SIDA)(2017May30-update): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Medical_Inadmissibility-Submission_to_IRCC-updated2017May30.pdf.
• Privacy Concerns with U.S. Executive Order – letters from HALCO and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network to Canadian government privacy authorities and replies (2017Apr/May):  Letter  to Privacy Commissioner of Canada; Letter to Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. Replies: Letter from Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario; Letter from Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
• An Act to amend various Acts with respect to medical assistance in dying – deputation by HALCO and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network (2017Mar):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Medical-Assistance-in-Dying_Ontario-Bill84_HALCO-deputation2017Mar17.pdf.
• Exploring Avenues to Address Problematic Prosecutions Against People Living with HIV in Canada – brief prepared by HALCO and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network (2017Mar): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Medical-Assistance-in-Dying_Ontario-Bill84_HALCO-deputation2017Mar17.pdf.
• Criminal law out of step on HIV, Law Times article by Ryan Peck (2017March):  https://www.halco.org/2017/news/criminal-law-out-of-step-on-hiv-article-in-law-times-by-halcos-ryan-peck.
• Ontario Provincial Ministerial Roundtable on Criminal Law and HIV – brief by the Ontario Working group on Criminal Law and HIV Exposure (CLHE) (2016Dec):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/CLHE_Ministers-Roundtable-brief_2016Dec5.pdf. For more information about the meeting, please see www.halco.org/2016/news/ontario-provincial-ministerial-roundtable-on-criminal-law-and-hiv.
• Complaint against Justice Bernd E. Zabel of the Ontario Court of Justice – HALCO and Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network November 2016 letter to Ontario Judicial Council in support of complaint of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) (2016Nov):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/HALCO-LN-OJC_complaint-Zabel_J_28Nov2016.pdf.
• Consultation on the future of Immigration in Canada – HALCO Submissions to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s consultation (2016Aug): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/HALCO-submission-Immigration-Consultation-2016Aug.pdf.
• Pay Day Loan Consultation – HALCO submissions to Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (2016May): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Payday_Loans_Consultation-HALCO_Submissions_toMinGovConsSer-2017May.pdf.
• Bill 185 to establish the Social Assistance Research Commission – HALCO wrote to Glen Murray, Member of Provincial Parliament for Toronto Centre and Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, to urge him to support Bill 185 (2016Apr): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/HALCO_Bill-185-re-social-assistance-rates_Hon-Glenn-Murray_13April16.pdf.
• Mandatory Minimum Prison Sentence Challenge at Supreme Court of Canada – intervention by HALCO, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, the Prisoners with HIV/AIDS Support Action Network, the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, and the Canadian Association of People who Use Drugs (together, the “Coalition”): Intervener Factum (arguments) www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Supreme_Court_Intervener_Factum_Lloyd-2016Jan.pdf; Intervener statement post decision www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Supreme_Court_Intervener_Statement_post-decision_Lloyd-2016Apr.pdf.  Supreme Court of Canada decision April 2016: https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/15859/index.do.
• Supervised Injection Services in Toronto – Brief to the Toronto Board of Health (2016Mar):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Supervised-Injection-Services_Brief-TorontoBrdHlth-2016Mar.pdf.
• Access to Remedies under Ontario Human Rights Code – Intervention by HALCO and the Mental Health Legal Committee in Kodama v. K.M. at the Ontario Divisional Court (2015Mar).  Intervener factum (arguments): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Intervener_Factum-Kodama_v_KM-HALCO-MHLC-2015Mar31.pdf.
• Social assistance and refugee claimants Submissions – Canada Budget Bill C-43 by HALCO and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network (2014Nov): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Bill_C-43_Submission_to_CIMM_2014Nov7.pdf.
• Autonomy in medical decision-making: HALCO and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network were among the interveners in Lee Carter, et al v. Attorney General of Canada, et al (“Carter”) at the Supreme Court of Canada,  Intervener Factum  (arguments) (2014Aug):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Supreme_Court_Intervener_Factum-Medical_Decision-making_Autonomy-CARTER-2014Aug.pdf.
• Trans* Legal Needs Assessment Ontario project: www.halco.org/our-services/trans-legal-needs-assessment-ontario.
• Opposing Accreditation of Trinity Western University School of Law – Submission to the Law Society of Upper Canada (2014Mar):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/TWU-School-of-Law_LSUC-accreditation_HALCO_2014Mar21.pdf.
• Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) procedures, Practice Directions and the Rules of Procedure – Submission to Consultation (2014Mar):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/HRTO_Consultation-HALCO_submission-2014Mar17.pdf.
• Public Consultation on Prostitution-Related Offences in Canada – Submission (2014Mar):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Prostitution_Related_Offences_Consultation-HALCO_Submission-2014Mar13.pdf.
• Landlord and Tenant Board should have power to review individual Rent Subsidies.  In September 2013, we made a submission to the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly to request that Section 203 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 be amended to give the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) explicit power to review decisions about rent subsidies that affect individual social housing tenants and members of housing co-operatives (2013Oct): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/HALCO-submission_Standing-Committee_RTA-section-203-Oct2013.pdf.
• Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Diversity Committee – submissions for HIV issues to be specifically addressed in best practices (2013Feb):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Police-Criminalization-recomm_LN-HALCO_Feb2013.pdf.
• Rasouli Consent to Treatment case at the Supreme Court of Canada: Brian Cuthbertson, et al. v. Hassan Rasouli by his Litigation Guardian and Substitute Decision Maker, Parichehr Salasel (Rasouli) on consent to medical treatment – Intervener Factum (2012July): https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Rasouli_intervention_Factum-2012July.pdf.
• Public Interest Standing case at the Supreme Court of Canada – Intervener Factum (2012Mar):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Supreme_Court_Intervener_Factum-CriminalCodeSexWork-2012Mar.pdf.  For more information, please see our post: www.halco.org/2012/news/halco-coalition-intervene-at-supreme-court-in-criminal-law-sex-work-case .
• Criminalization appeals at the Supreme Court of Canada – Intervener Factum is on our website (2012Feb):   www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Supreme_Court_Intervener_Factum-MabiorD.C.-2012-Feb.pdf.  For more information, please visit our HIV & Criminal Law page.
• Participation in the Ontario Working Group on Criminal Law and HIV Exposure’s (CLHE) Campaign for Prosecutorial Guidelines for HIV non-disclosure criminal law matters. Ryan Peck, HALCO Executive Director, is co-chair of the Working Group (please visit our HIV & Criminal Law page).
• Acting as counsel for the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in Bedford, Terri et al v. The Attorney General of Canada at the Ontario Court of Appeal. For more information, please see page 11 of our HALCO news Spring 2012 newsletter:   https://www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/HALCO_Newsletter-2012SpringJune.pdf.
• Making made written submissions to the Ontario Human Rights Review 2011-12.  Our submissions focus on our experience with human rights issues for people living with HIV in Ontario (2012Mar):  www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Human_Rights_review-HALCO_submissions2012-March.pdf.
• Health Canada’s Consultation on Proposed Improvements to the Marihuana Medical Access Program (marijuana) HALCO submissions (2011July): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/HALCO-Medical_Marihuana_submission2011July.pdf.
• Making submissions regarding proposed amendments to the Regulations under the Ontario Personal Health Information Protection Act related to Ontario’s eHealth initiative (2011Apr): www.halco.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/HALCO-PHIPA_e-Health_amendment_submission-2011Apr.pdf.  Please visit our Health Law section for more information.
• Intervening in a judicial review at the Federal Court concerning the extent to which immigrant applicants with high prescription drug costs could be denied entry to Canada.  We argued, and the Court accepted, that immigration officers must take into account an individual’s personal circumstances, including the availability of private health insurance, when conducting an “excessive demand” analysis.  The Court decision Companioni v. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, 2009 FC 1315 is available on the Federal Court website:   http://decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca/en/2009/2009fc1315/2009fc1315.html.
• Acting as counsel in inquests relating to people living with HIV/AIDS who passed away in prison.
• Providing submissions to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care regarding electronic health records.
• Advocating for human rights reform including advocacy for and implementation of Bill 107, an Act to Amend the Human Rights Code, 2006. The Bill was passed and a new human rights regime came into effect in Ontario in June 2008. (please visit our Human Rights section for more information about human rights law in Ontario).