Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights

Comité permanent de la justice et des droits de la personne

For immediate release

Ottawa, April 09, 2019 -

Today, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (the Committee) began its study on the criminalization of non-disclosure of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) status.

Canadian individuals and organizations are invited to submit briefs to the Committee to express their views on the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure. Particularly, the Committee is seeking Canadians’ views on:

• the content of the federal Directive providing prosecutorial guidance on HIV non-disclosure published in the Canada Gazette and its appropriateness (for example, does the Directive reflect the most recent medical science and available data regarding the transmission of HIV?);

• the best practices to address the non-disclosure of HIV status;

• the best way to improve the cooperation between the criminal justice system and public health authorities;

• the role of the federal government with respect to provincial prosecutorial directives regarding HIV non-disclosure, considering that most HIV non-disclosure cases are prosecuted by provincial Crown prosecutors.

Please note that written submissions are to be no more than 10 pages and submitted to the Committee Clerk no later than April 30, 2019. Those preparing briefs may wish to consult the Guide for Submitting Briefs to House of Commons Committees.

The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights is composed of 11 Members of Parliament. It is chaired by Anthony Housefather, MP for Mount Royal.

For more information on the Committee’s members, meetings and work, please consult the Committee's website.