In 2015, we promised to end the MSM (men who have sex with men) blood donation ban in Canada: a discriminatory practice that prohibits gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men from donating blood and makes it harder for Canadians in need to receive a life-saving blood transfusion.

Since then, we’ve worked with Canadian Blood Services to reduce the five-year ban to one year, then to three months in 2019.

Today, Health Canada approved Canadian Blood Services’ submission to eliminate it altogether.

Under the new screening approach, Canadian Blood Services will introduce a sexual behaviour-based donor-screening questionnaire that will apply to all donors of blood and plasma. Canadian Blood Services has indicated it expects to implement this new screening approach by September 30, 2022.

This announcement is a significant milestone toward a more inclusive blood donation system nationwide. We remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting blood and plasma donation policies in Canada that are safe, non-discriminatory, and scientifically based.

Learn more about blood safety in Canada and Health Canada's decision regarding the Canadian Blood Services submission.

For additional information about this announcement, visit the News Release.