AIDS: the crisis continues


   In 1990, eight years after the first case of AIDS was reported
in Canada, the federal government announced a federal AIDS funding
program.  The government contributed $37.5 million annually for
three years, until the expiry of the program on March 31, 1993.
   In November 1992, national health organizations recommended to
then health minister Benoit Bouchard that a minimum of $55.35
million in federal funding is required to adequately address
Canada's AIDS/HIV epidemic. This proposal was unanimously endorsed
by the all-party Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on AIDS.
   Bouchard announced in March 1993 that the government would spend
only $42.2 million a year on AIDS for the next five years.
   Almost 5,000 people have died of AIDS in Canada, and an
estimated 30,000 Canadians are now living with the HIV infection.

The EGALE questionnaire asked

Do you agree that federal AIDS funding should be increased to
$55.35 million a year?


Conservatives: No
"We increased funding....at a time when we must cut back spending
in virtually all areas."


Liberals: ?
"Liberal health critic, Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, in questioning the
Minister of Health in the House of Commons, advocated...a firm
commitment of $55 million a year."


New Democrats: Yes
"The NDP supported the call of AIDS organizations for this level of
funding."


AIDS/HIV is "the greatest communicable disease challenge to face
public health in the second half of the 20th century."

Dr. Ian Gemmill, Canadian Public Health Association
quoted in Confronting a Crisis: The Report of the Parliamentary Ad
Hoc Committee on AIDS
June 1990

"It is a great pity that there is an overfixation on AIDS, which is
perhaps one of the least of the concerns in our society right now
with respect to infectious or contagious diseases..."

Kim Campbell
Vancouver Sun
March 19, 1993
284 words