Question Period Note: 2SLGBTQI+ Health

Historical and ongoing injustices endured by 2SLGBTQI+ populations have created persistent barriers to health services, employment, housing, social support and services, and safety for 2SLGBTQI+ individuals. Consequently, 2SLGBTQI+ populations experience health inequities across a range of physical and mental health and social outcomes.

The Government of Canada is committed to addressing stigma, discrimination and hate against 2SLGBTQI+ populations and reducing the social and health inequities that they face.
We are focused on improving the health and wellbeing of 2SLGBTQI+ people and reducing health inequities related to employment, housing, social support and services, and personal safety.
We are investing in tailored research, health promotion, disease prevention and whole-of-government equity initiatives to address healthcare access, mental health, family- and gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive health for 2SLGBTQI+ populations.
IF PRESSED ON HEALTH PORTFOLIO ACTION …
Our funding programs aim to improve health outcomes for 2SLGBTQI+ populations, such as preventing gender-based violence, STBBI, improving mental health and addressing barriers to sexual and reproductive health care.
To advance 2SLGBTQI+ health research, we are investing in culturally responsive data practices, a health research training platform on stigma reduction and mental wellness, and an Applied Public Health Chair to address research gaps for 2SLGBTQI+ older adults.
IF PRESSED ON RISING ANTI-2SLGBTQI+ MIS-/DIS-INFORMATION AND INTIMIDATION …
Anti-2SLGBTQI+ mis- and dis-information, particularly related to trans and non-binary youth, is rising globally.
Within just the first three months of 2023, Egale Canada tracked 6,423 anti-2SLGBTQI+ instances of online hate and protests in Canada. Protests also recently took place across the country condemning 2SLGBTQI+-inclusive policies and gender-affirming care for youth.
We know that trans youth already face an alarmingly disproportionate risk of suicide ideation and attempt. Our government recognizes the urgency of this issue, and is committed to protecting the health, safety, and wellbeing of 2SLGBTQI+ youth.
We are committed to exploring ways to counter this mis- and dis-information by engaging with trans and non-binary people in Canada, and standing up against hate and discrimination, in all its forms.
IF PRESSED ON DATA GAPS …
Through the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan, the Government of Canada is committed to improving data collection, analysis, research, and knowledge on 2SLGBTQI+ communities through $7.7 million in funding across 5 years to support new community-led research and data collection.

Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan
On August 28, 2022, the Government of Canada launched the first-ever Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan, which seeks to improve the social, economic and health outcomes of 2SLGBTQI+ populations in Canada through a whole-of-government approach. WAGE is the federal lead on the Action Plan and recently celebrated the 1-year anniversary of its launch.
The historic $100 million Budget 2022 investment in the Action Plan, allocated entirely to WAGE, will support activities such as community capacity, anti-stigma, awareness and research – all of which will advance meaningful action on the social determinants of health and have a positive impact on the health of 2SLGBTQI+ populations.
The Health Portfolio’s current initiatives to support 2SLGBTQI+ populations also contribute to the Action Plan’s objectives, but more work remains to be done. The Health Portfolio will continue to work with federal partners, such as WAGE, to advance the priorities of the Action Plan and related Government of Canada equity initiatives, such as Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2.0, Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate, and the 2021 National Action Plan: Ending Violence Against Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People.
Health Portfolio Initiatives
The Health Portfolio currently supports the health of 2SLGBTQI+ populations through a range of both targeted and inclusive initiatives and will seek opportunities to strengthen these efforts as the 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan evolves over its five-year timeline. Some of these initiatives include:
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC):
1) Data and surveillance initiatives, such as the Pan-Canadian Health Inequalities Reporting Initiative; efforts to better understand STBBI health status, related determinants and data needs of transgender people in Canada; and enhanced surveillance for men who have sex with men (MSM) populations through funding support for the Sex Now Survey;
2) Funding programs that have supported 2SLGBTQI+ projects, including the Mental Health Promotion Innovation Fund (2 targeted projects), the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund (23 targeted projects), the Preventing Gender-Based Violence initiative (5 targeted projects), the Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund (3 targeted projects), the Dementia Community Investment (1 targeted project), the Harm Reduction Fund (3 targeted projects); and the Supporting the Mental Health of Those Most Affected by COVID-19 initiative (5 targeted projects);
3) Research and knowledge translation initiatives, such as the Canadian Research and Knowledge Translation Agenda on Suicide and its Prevention, which includes a focus on 2SLGBTQI+ populations;
4) Emergency preparedness and response, such as the $900,000 investment from the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund to increase the capacity of 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations in the regions most impacted by the mpox outbreak; and
5) Training, such as the integration of PHAC’s Applied Learning for LGBTQIA+ Epidemiology (ALLE) course into its Canadian Field Epidemiology Training Curriculum.
Health Canada:
Funding programs that have supported or are anticipated to support projects focused on 2SLGBTQI+ populations. The Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund ($45 million over 3 years, starting in 2021/22 and extended with $36 million over 3 years, starting in 2024/25) has a strong emphasis on initiatives focusing on 2SLGBTQI+ populations: 7 focus on 2SLGBTQI+ populations with a value of over $10.2 million. Additional funding programs that support some projects focused on 2SLGBTQI+ populations include the Substance Use and Addictions Program ($100 million over 3 years, starting in 2022/23); and the Addressing Racism and Discrimination in Canada’s Health Systems Program ($14.9 million over three years, beginning in 2021/22).
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR):
1) CIHR supports research and knowledge mobilization related to 2SLGBTQI+ health, including through the following priority-driven research initiatives:
• The National Women’s Health Research Initiative, in partnership with Women and Gender Equality Canada, which will advance a coordinated research program addressing under-researched and high priority areas of women’s and gender-diverse people’s health;
• The Health Research Training Platform on Stigma Reduction and Life Course Mental Wellness for LGBTQ/2S Populations (co-funded with PHAC and Egale);
• The CIHR Sex and Gender Science Chair - LGBTQI2S Wellness and Resilience;
• The Indigenous Gender and Wellness Initiative, which includes research to improve wellness of Indigenous Two-Spirit and LGBTQI+ individuals and communities;
• Catalyst Grants for Healthy Youth, which include dedicated funding for 2SLGBTQI+ youth, including supporting participatory action research on the information needs of Two-Spirit, transgender and non-binary youth;
• Catalyst Grants for Standards for Children and Youth Mental Health Services, which are supporting research on Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ youth mental health system and service needs; and
• Transforming Health with Integrated Care Implementation Science Team Grants, which are supporting a study that is adapting a mental health recovery toolkit for equity-deserving groups, including 2SLGBTQI+ communities.
2) CIHR also continues to advance measures to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion within the research ecosystem, including for/with 2SLGBTQI+ researchers and trainees, for example through commitments to further gender equity in CIHR’s strategic plan and the Tri-Agency Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.

2SLGBTQI+ populations in Canada experience substantial inequities in self-rated health and mental health, household food insecurity, smoking, heavy drinking, asthma, arthritis, and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI).
Canadian studies have also revealed significant socioeconomic inequities facing 2SLGBTQI+ populations, including in income, employment, and workplace stress, as well as experiences of violence, hate crimes, and discrimination.
Suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts are disproportionately prevalent among 2SLGBTQI+ youth compared to non-2SLGBTQI+ peers.