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We advocate with clients, communities, and partners to address the structural inequities that shape health.
Our advocacy spans legal reform, policy engagement, and public education—always grounded in lived experience and collaboration. Areas of Advocacy
Access to Healthcare 2026 - Media Statement - Health Justice Program warns new Interim Federal Health Program co-payments will put essential care out of reach for refugees and undermine access to justice HJP raised concerns about federal changes introducing co-payments for medications and supplemental health services under the Interim Federal Health Program, warning they will create barriers to essential care for refugee claimants and newly arrived refugees. Download 2026 – Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) in Federal Custody: Resource for Incarcerated Individuals Published a guide to help federally incarcerated individuals navigate Correctional Service Canada’s (CSC) new OAT policies. This resource explains changes to medication options (including the shift to Sublocade), transition periods, and legal rights for those facing forced medication changes. Download the Resource: OAT in Federal Custody (PDF) › Open Letter from Clinicians: Urgent concerns regarding CSC’s OAT policy changes › Partners: HIV Legal Network, Prisoners’ Legal Services 2024 – Supreme Court of Canada intervention: Auer v. Auer (with HALCO) Advocated for fairness and transparency in delegated legislation review. Case summary › Pro bono counsel: Mannu Chowdhury (Paliare Roland) 2023 – OHIP for All advocacy Supported the campaign for healthcare access regardless of immigration status. Campaign page › Blog Post › Housing Justice 2025 – Encampments & municipal powers (Bill 242) Advocacy opposing municipal by-laws that penalize poverty and displacement. Read submission › 2020 – Black v. City of Toronto (encampment evictions) Defended the rights of unhoused residents and advanced housing justice. Decision summary › 2019 – Improving Housing Conditions, Improving Health (CMHC project) Community-based research linking housing stability and health outcomes. Project summary › Income Security Justice 2022 – Toronto Star op-ed (Bloch & Stone) Highlighted the need to treat income and housing supports as core public-health measures. Read article › 2021 – Presentation: Challenges related to Family Responsibility Office/Service Canada garnishing Old Age Security for low-income seniors Short explainer on benefit deductions and what seniors can do. Blog post › Watch › 2021 – Disability Tax Credit information sheet (with ISAC) Resource to help providers support clients with disabilities. Download PDF › 2020 – D.S. v. Aviva Insurance coalition success Advanced equality in insurance access for people with disabilities. Decision summary › Counsel: Dianne Wintermute & Karen Spector Immigration Justice 2020 – Safe Third Country Agreement (FCA intervention application) Collaborative effort addressing refugee rights under the Charter. Case info › Disability Justice 2025 – MCCSS office “banning policies” recommendations Discussion paper to reduce harmful local practices that block access to services. Read › 2025 – Shoucri et al., “Public Health Law, COVID-19, and the Social Determinants of Health.” In Public Health Law and Policy in Canada (5th ed., forthcoming). (Citation only.) Harm Reduction 2026 – Consultation on Proposed regulation to extend authorities under the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act, 2025 (RPCISA) to transit special constables HJP urged the Ontario government not to extend enforcement powers to transit special constables under the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act, warning the change would deepen criminalization and worsen health harms for marginalized transit users. Read › Our Approach
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