In August, Prime Minister Stephen Harper did not attend the World Aids Conference in Toronto, nor was his government represented in any way. Organizations were loudly critical of his lack of interest. Yesterday, on World AIDS Day, the Harper government finally acknowledged the planet’s AIDS crisis. International Co-operation Minister Josee Verner announced that Canada will give $120 million to the global fight against AIDS. They chose a few directions to funnel the money. Twenty million dollars will go to vaccine research, and $19 million to Haiti and Canadian agencies for prevention programs. Tanzania will receive $20 million for it’s HIV/AIDS plan, while McGill University will receive $2.5 million for research into preventing parent-child transmission in Zimbabwe.
Yesterday’s announcement is great news, but there is still more to be done. The generic AIDS medication promised to Africa years ago has still not left the country, for one thing. A hundred and twenty million dollars is good, but it is only a drop in the bucket.
Harper seemed distinctly unsympathetic to AIDS victims less than four months ago, but now he has changed his tune somewhat. I am sure that public outcry over his silence in August is a big factor in yesterday’s AIDS funding. The Conservatives are, well, extremely conservative, but they must respond to the majority of the people, or they will lose their power. This is especially true with a minority government like this one. Whatever your political concerns, it is always worthwhile to express them. We must continue to voice our opinions until the government is forced to act.
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