Ottawa is spending $5 million to expand access to HIV self-test kits and hire peer-based support workers for communities facing the highest burdens of HIV, the federal government announced Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Where the money is going
Of the $5 million, $2 million is earmarked for the self-test kits themselves, while the remaining $3 million will fund peer support networks. As part of the broader push, the federal government is dispatching 80,000 HIV self-test kits across the country to expand access to prevention.
The announcement was made by Manitoba Liberal MP Doug Eyolfson, speaking on behalf of federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel. Eyolfson said the goal is to remove barriers to care no matter where someone lives or what circumstances they face.
"This is about making sure that where you live, your circumstances, or the barriers you face do not determine whether you can access the care you need," he said.
Eyolfson also emphasized that an HIV diagnosis doesn't have to define someone's life. "HIV is a manageable condition, and people living with HIV deserve to live healthy, full lives without stigma or discrimination," he said.
Who the funding is meant to reach
Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Joss Reimer, said the investment is aimed squarely at the stigma and inequities that keep people from getting care in the first place. "This investment helps to address stigma and the inequities that keep people away from care," she said.
Reimer said the funding is intended to support community organizations working with Indigenous populations, men who have sex with men, Black communities and other racialized communities, and people who inject drugs.
The numbers behind the push
The federal government says 2,300 new HIV diagnoses were reported across Canada in 2024, and an estimated 7,000 people in the country are living with HIV without knowing it. As of the end of 2024, an estimated 70,900 people were living with HIV in Canada overall.
The data behind the announcement also points to how unevenly the virus is spread across the country. Manitoba reported a 2024 HIV rate of 19.5 cases per 100,000 people, about four times the national rate, underscoring why the funding is being targeted at communities facing the highest burdens rather than distributed evenly nationwide.
What's next
No further details on rollout timelines, which organizations will receive funding, or how kits will be distributed locally have been announced. We'll update this story as those details become available.
Sources: Global News, Lethbridge Herald (Canadian Press)
