Stephen Harper was missed at the AIDS conference in Toronto.
Yeah, I know Tony Clement was there, as health minister. The Governor-General was there, too. But the Big Guy should have been present, and given a speech. Instead, he was in Nunavut, speaking there, and spending some time with members of the Canadian Forces who are launching a sovereignty expedition. Sovereignty matters, of course, but 25 million dead people matter more.
That’s how many humans have perished from AIDS in the last couple of decades, while 40 million more were infected. Today AIDS is busy wiping out an entire generation in sub-Sahara Africa, and young women across half the planet have become the fastest growing victim group.
The Toronto conference is a big deal. Twenty-four thousand delegates, and 3,000 media. The richest man in the world was there, and if Bill Gates can find time to drop in, then the leader of the host country probably should as well.
That was lost on nobody Sunday, as members of the giant audience in the Rogers Centre (a.k.a. SkyDome) gave a standing ovation to the conference co-chair when he said Harper’s absence was a signal his government does not care. And as much as that may not be true, and as much as Tony Clement tried to change that, he couldn’t.
Obviously I can’t pass judgment on PMO scheduling. Nobody asked me if the prime minister should be at this event. As a member of Parliament and the Conservative caucus, I get the same press releases the PMO sends to the media. But had I been asked, my answer would have been crystal: AIDS is a global epidemic and wealthy, blessed countries like Canada have an obligation to lead the fight. And be seen leading it.
Methods of prevention are known and effective drugs are now available. If we can virtually wipe out polio and leprosy and TB, and are now going to vaccinate all young Canadian girls against an uncommon form of cancer, then maybe we can do more for dirt-poor folks in African communities who this disease has doomed, and families that are being destroyed.
Man, I wonder how many live-saving doses of vaccine could be bought with the $494,000 that the Commons finance committee is going to piss away on a travel junket this autumn (please see previous post)? Anyone who tries to argue with me that we can’t do more is a liar or a fool.
So, I don’t know why he wasn’t there. But I do know how it was interpreted, and the signal it obviously sent. For the record, it was the wrong decision.
Conservatives have apologized to and compensated the Chinese head tax payers. We have launched the Air India judicial inquiry the Indo-Canadian community so wanted. We have extended new powers to the province of Quebec. We have just made a Liberal MP a special advisor to Stephen Harper because he is Muslin and well-connected in his middle-East homeland. We have now compensated the victims of tainted blood.
All of it laudable. All noble.
So I’d just hate to think we are downplaying the world’s greatest plague because of a scheduling conflict. Or worse.
______________________________________________________________
Ottawa vows to get cheap drugs flowing
Toronto Star - The federal health minister wants Canada to keep its promise of supplying cheap AIDS drugs to Africa and is seeking advice on changing legislation that is hindering the flow of life-saving medication.
“If we can put a man on the moon, we can solve this issue,” said Tony Clement of Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime, which, ironically, was designed to boost the Canadian production of generic drugs for poor countries.
The problem, say critics, is that Canada based its law on an already complicated framework designed by the World Trade Organization, and muddled it further when implementing it into national law.
To date, not a single pill has been exported and not a single patient has benefited from the Canadian law, which was passed two years ago.
“Obviously the legislation isn’t working,” said Clement, while attending an international nurses forum in Toronto on the weekend.
In the days leading up to last night’s opening in Toronto of AIDS 2006, the 16th international conference on AIDS — the theme of which is “Time to Deliver” — activists have been extremely critical of Canada’s record.
Clement said he has sought advice from organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, as well as Stephen Lewis, the UN’s special envoy for AIDS in Africa, on how to make the law work.
“We have failed lamentably,” said Lewis. “It’s almost unbelievable that two governments — one Liberal and one Conservative — can’t get a single pill to Africa.”
Lewis said Clement pressed him “fairly hard” for advice on Saturday on how to get the drugs flowing. The answer, said Lewis, is to issue compulsory licences to generic pharmaceutical companies that would allow them to make drugs without the patent holder’s permission.
58 comments ↓
Garth….what % of GDP should we be giving to AIDS as Bono has requested on numerious occasions?
Will you make that a recommendation to the Finance Committee?
I respect your message…..and since I know you truly mean your heartfelt words Garth, how about donating your finance committee bonus to AIDS…..actions do speak louder than words…..
And sometimes words are meaningless. I collect no bonus for committee work. — Garth
So Dr. Mark Wainberg thinks that the PM of Canada should have been there at the opening. Well, quite obviously, he doesn’t understand that the GG is the Head of State and she was there representing Canada. As well, the Health Minister and the International Development Minister was there lending Canadian support.
What Dr. Mark Wainberg is doing is playing shameful politics.
BTW: did anyone notice that there was no applause from these “apolitic” types, when Bill Gates stated that President Bush had committed 15 BILLION to the Aids cause. These people are really not doing themselves any favours. What is their real agenda?
Chretien & Co. were famous for talking about this sort of thing and orchestrating conferences and photo-ops to generate political support then delivering nothing.
Harper won’t even show up to talk about it.
Maybe he will do the opposite of the liberals by saying nothing and doing something. I certainly hope so. It would be nice to think we can put as much effort into saving innocent lives as we put into killing Afghan insurgents.
Well said Garth. PMSH erred on this one. Can’t help but wonder if his evangelical Christain background didn’t have something to do with his not being there. After all, there are some, including many of the evangelicals that wouyld argue that AIDS is God’s punishmnet for an immoral lifestyle.
Kind of in the Colin Mayes mold… http://www.chbc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13119
Garth
Thank you for your comments regarding the PM’s response to the AIDS conference. I really cannot believe that the PM of Canada cannot attend this very important conference. It is beyond belief. Does the PM still think this is the “Gay disease” or is he nervous around the “unclean masses” or perhaps this is “God’s wrath” !!!!
I really hope that the media “pound” him on this issue until we get the truth! This should not go away so easy. Think about our reputation as a country …even G Bush gave something and spoke on the issue!!
PS:
John G
Your cynicism has no bounds …
To Cathleen,
The GG is a representative of the Queen, who is the Head of State.
Harper is the representative of the Government.
Steven Lewis sent Steve a four-point plan to eradicate AIDS and an invite to the AIDS conference. Steve sent him a letter saying ” Thanks but no thanks
Which makes me wonder. If he is so psychotic about how things look to the rest of Canada. Why behave this way. If he really does want a majority?
What do you mean? “They are not doing themselves any favour and what is there agenda?”
To wipeout HIV AIDS. I guess it’s to save lives…stop violence against women and other antisocial behaviour. That’s my guess. I think you should give up the conspiracy theory stuff. Life’s to short.
By the way has anybody found out the real reason he was a no show… Or as Steven Lewis suggested…â€He was afraid he was going to get the same reception Michael Fortie received at the OutGames.â€
Have a great day Cathleen.
Garth: I think you should think about being an Independent member of parliament. Because Steve’s going to make sure the conservatives don’t nominate you again.
Thanks,
Concerned Canadian
Frank, Frank, Frank. Tired, cliché, totally inaccurate. When will you and others cease slamming our PM because of his faith? There are some people, of every faith and of no faith, who think that AIDS is a punishment or that it is deserved. Please cease slamming us Christians – it’s unproductive and without warrant.
Richard
Just a quick comment on the Cliche that you are speaking about regardsing the PM. When people go on the airwaves and claim to be speaking for Chritians and talk about AIDS and God’s wrath in the same sentence then it is warranted. I am speaking about Jimmy Swaggart, Mr 700 Club and many others. If this is not what Christianity is about then Christians are going to need to make that clear to the people that speak publicly on there behalf.
Garth…it was my understanding MP’s are paid extra for committee work etc…my error…..you still haven’t answered my questions……I could list another 25 GOTCHA questions like If a women is pregnant and she contracts AIDS, should she get an abortion?
KG…..FYI…….my wife and I have attended no less than 15 charitable fundraisers this year…we give both our time and money to an assortment of causes and organizations…..you are in no position to call me cynical…..
Catherine….I agree…….it is despicable that people would politicize this crisis and convention…but we know that’s REALITY…..
ALW…..lets hope you’re right….
While the Prime Minister’s attendance would have been significant, he is only one MP out of 308. Where were the other 307? Seems to me that an appearance by 307 MPs would make a dramatic statement.
KG: I agree with you about self-appointed spokesmen for Christianity. Jimmy Swaggart and other televangalists speak for themselves and their particular flocks. The majority of us who have faith – and I am speaking of all religions – live our faiths as opposed to making public statements which twist the words of our Scriptures. Please recognize televangalists for what they are – for-profit businesses with their own personal agendas. I, personally, consider them to be scam artists of a very low order.
Jimmy Swaggart and Gerry Falwell have said many things, as have Pat Robertson and Ralph Reed. What they say are their opinions and certainly not those of the vast majority of Christians; just as the words of a few radical imams do not speak for the vast majority of Muslims who are ordinary, peace-loving people just like you and I.
Calling our PM names because of his faith is simply not the right thing to do. It is childish and has no place in an adult world.
Wrong.
Garth,I don’t disagree very often with you but I do on this. My own brother is gay and lost a partner to aids a couple of decades ago, so I have some idea what this topic involves. He has always been totally accepted by the extended family and encouraged to be very careful. After that, he always swore up and down and sideways that he would be careful. Was he? No. He is HIV positive now.
“The condom broke” was the best excuse he could come up with. Yah, right. Knowing him as I do, sheer laziness and reckless disregard for his own health is more likely the truth. I still love him though; he IS my brother.
Don’t get me wrong. AIDS research is extremely important and it should be given a high priority. A lot of people become HIV positive through no fault of their own and deserve our best efforts in the hunt for a cure. Unfortunately, HIV is largely spread by people who don’t give a damn about prevention until they personally get caught.
So do I think SH made a mistake by not being at the conference? Not necessarily. Weighing it against a visit to the north reinforcing our sovereignity there and showing the aboriginal peoples that the PM thinks they are important, I would say it’s a bit of a coin toss. It really depends on your point of view. Definitely NOT something to froth at the mouth over because the PM wasn’t there. And I’m left wondering at the political leanings of the “Conference Co-chair”.
We’ll just have to agree to disagree on this one, Garth.
Brison critical of PM………
Scott Brison, Jack Layton and the rest of you political whores…how dare you criticize Harper…Brison attended to shore up his base period….why are none of these people ever out at Heart/Stroke foundation or Breast Cancer conventions which kills far more Canadians annually than AIDS…..if Brison or any other politician was honest they would reach in their own pockets…..the odds of that are zippo……talk about a group of hypocritical SOB’s …….Harper was the only honest politician of the bunch including our pal Garth……
It’s funny…
Christians are criticized for being anti-gay and saying that aids are God’s judgement…and yet most of the hospitals and clinics around the world taking care of folks suffering from aids are run by Christian organizations.
I feel that homosexual behaviour is wrong, but I also feel that Christians should (and do) the best job of taking care of the sick. I’m also against smoking, and I can note the cause-and-effect between smoking and cancer…but never do I say smokers should not be treated.
Atta be Garth. The PM should have been there.
I found a copy of “The Strategy” kicking around the office. But I’m still waiting for deflation.
Blog on.
Doug…I think the point is that Harper could have scheduled his trip north anytime. The conference dates were scheduled many, many months in advance. It was not a case of only being able to do one or the other…Harper was fully capable of making both work. After listening to the negative press he has received since yesterday, I’m guessing he wished he had made a better decision.
On the other hand, he sould have sent Doris Day or Colin Mayes in his place. Oh my, could you imagine either of those two at an AIDS convention.
I might agree with Doug on this one. AIDS is a behavioural issue as much as it is a medical issue. We can come up with vaccines for certain diseases, but if people still decide to not take precautions against catching the disease in the first place, of what use are our efforts?
Education is important also, but education cannot always change peoples’ value and belief systems.
Garth were you in attendance?
Which Lib MPs are there?
Good for the PM, can’t blame him for not attending, much nicer in Nunavut this time of year.
Doug… I agree with Garth, and have to disagree with you.
The PM not being present was both a bad political decision, and an even worse public relations decision. Whatever his reasons for avoiding it, yes, he should have been there, and given a welcoming speech. Whether we voted Conservative or not, “he” is the collective voice of this government and country.
I’m so disappointed. It looks so bad, and it would have been so easy to have been done right.
(Garth… thank you for this blog. I’ve enjoyed reading it for months now, and you always bring up the issues that need to be addressed.)
John G hit on an important point with his first post. These “activists” want my tax dollars to go towards these causes .7% of GDP most say. Well, what percentage of their own income do they donate? If it is not a signifficant amount then that person is a pure and simple hypocrite.
As for the constant tarring of Christians by those on the left, I would simply point out that the ones feeding the homeless aren’t the NDP, its the church; The people who are always protesting the death penalty in the US and were instramental in shaping public opinion here were not MoveOn.Org, it was the church. So go ahead keep talking that is what you lefties do. And while you are busy complaining about problems in the world they will continue trying to actually do something about them.
Garth: My question is was there anything that happened here that was actually news, or should the PM have been there just for the photo-op? 25 million dead do matter more. But the PM being in Toronto won’t bring even one of them back.
Lynne Miller, you seem to want to subtly demean people by name calling or twisting their names.
Hence, you are not a person with whom one should try to have a mature debate.
Catherine
Garth, were you there? You are a critic of your own leader on this one because he wasn’t there. And you claim to be the CPC’s closests MP to Toronto. For your sake, I hope you were there and that you confirm that you were….Otherwise, please explain where you were…PMSH was up North on government business, what were you up to?
for you lefties out there, Alexa M. is off her meds again…. see her Hill Times letter…
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2006/august/14/let2/&c=1
Her statement “This is a view that keeps with most of our traditional European allies, but not, apparently, the government of George W. Bush’s buddy, “Steve” Harper.”
Now I ask you, would a rational and mature individual write this?
I don’t know what Alexa and her cronies will do after 2008? Her favourite punching bag won’t be there – she’ll have to go into rehab or something
According to recent news, Israeli doctors discovered a vaccine restoring the immune system of people suffering from AIDS. It is not a cure since it does not kill the virus. But it partially reverses the devastation inflicted by the virus on the immune system of the sufferer. With the help of the Israeli vaccine, AIDS patients will be able to lead longer, more normal lives. Among other things, this means they will have more sex partners. As a result, some of their partners will inevitably become infected with HIV. This will give people of good will all over the world a perfectly valid reason to blame Jews for the spread of AIDS. This also makes all of us, friends of Israel and anti-Semites alike, wonder what miracles Israel would have been able to bestow on humanity had it not had to fight for its life every single day of its existence.
Alex Crow
Sorry, I don’t think the PM should have been there any more than you or the other MPs should have been there.
I’m much more worried about the soldier kissing his family one week on video and getting his head blown off the next week in the war in Afghanistan.
I’m proud the PM is spending some well deserved time with our aching armed forces.
Those who die willingly for our freedom are always a priority over photo ops.
I personally don’t see anything wrong about our PM not attending the AIDS conference. His presence does not change anything and his absence does not mean he is less committed to fighting for this cause. Our military experienced tragic loses and could use that reassurance that our PM is committed and steadfast in his position. I am proud of our PM for choosing to be with the “forgotten people” up in the Arctic than rubbing shoulders with the “influential” people. This makes me belive that he cares about the little people. I would have done the same if I was in his shoes.
Flip
I gotta agree with Tim. If it wasn’t an AIDS conference it would have been something else that was of earth shattering importance that PM Harper just HAD to be there. I’m glad to see that this government will not be itself beholden to special interest groups.
I’m NOT saying the issue isn’t important. What I AM saying is that EVERY group thinks their issue is the most important, earth-shattering issue around and that the sky will fall if they aren’t paid attention to. That certainly is the case here. And the political bottom-feeders are attracted to it like a moth to the flame… all the press and photo ops are FAR too alluring for a Liberal to resist.
I agree with you completely about Canadians with dual citizenship. These people use Canada at their own convenience.
I came from another country and when I became a Canadian citizen I gave up my former citizenship, much to the distress of family members.
Some of these family members are “Canadians” in name only. They use Canada for their own selfish purpose. They get doctors from their country who practice medicine here to push them ahead of the line for medical attention and hospitalization.
And I, as a Canadian citizen, pay taxes for these people who don’t pay a damn cent to support the system. One of them even came here to give birth so the child would have Canadian citizenship and become eligible for all the wonderful things this country provides, with my taxes.
What is going on? I am disgusted with how people abuse the system.
Good luck.
Garth
Just a quick note on the attendance or rather lack of attendance by the PM at the world AIDS conference being held in Toronto.
This is probably one of the most important conferences being held anywhere on this planet ….bar none!! The reasons or excuses that are coming out of the PMO are the worst I have seen! They might as well have said that he was busy doing laundry! I know the PM is a bit of a nervous Nellie around the “unclean masses” but even Jean Chrétien eventually figured it out and started getting involved and realized that this is a health catastrophe and not the “Gay Disease”
Garth if the conservative party is a “big tent” party then it is going to have to start acting like it very soon. I have seen what is going on with the liberals and I do not like it …there is not one person in the current leadership campaign that is PM material! I may vote for the Green Party they have reasonable policies that are forward looking and pragmatic.
PS: Just a quick comment on the Lebanon situation. Thank you for your take on what is happening especially regarding passport holders. I do not fully agree with you and your stand on the issue, but I do think it is a good thing to discuss and perhaps take a better look at.
These folks where simply doing what they could to leave a very scary situation. If it was you and I we would do the same because we could.
As far as a few people complaining …well that happens. I complain about the government all the time …. even when they are helping me! Cut them some slack they where all freaked out!
Kevin G.
Halton
Being politically VERY naive, I had no idea that it was the cherished Charter of Rights (how is that politicians are able to name these things for exactly what they are NOT?) that stripped away my property rights.
I’ve seen a few e-mails warning you not to pursue this quest because you’ll lose so-and-so’s support.
Well, you’ve got mine.
God-speed!
Tim: Sorry, but Nunavut was a photo op. Feigning concern for our Arctic sovereignity, which is apparently in jeopardy because of global warming, which the P.M. dismisses as wacky science, is a poor reason for missing a chance to speak before a world-wide audience. An opening remark from the leader of the host country is relatively painless. What was he afraid of? Who adivsed him not to attend?
August 14, 2006
PM Stephen Harper
Subject: AIDS is a man-made virus
Read the research that shows why AIDS is a man-made disease. This research indicates that it is much more likely that these cancer-causing viruses (HIV and KS) were introduced in NYC during government-sponsored hepatitis B experiments using Manhattan gays as unsuspecting guinea pigs. Extensive documentation of past “secret medical experiments” by the government can be found on Google.
AIDS and many of the other mysterious diseases that seem to be afflicting man and beast are part of the Synarchist Movement’s plan to reduce the population of Planet Earth down to at least two billion worker slaves as part of the NWO. This is why they need a One World Government so that they can speed up the process, The soon-to-be formation of the North American Community (Union) is just another step on the road to this One World Government.
Going to the AIDS Conference in Toronto would just be a waste of time.
Maybe SH should just stay home and watch summertime TV. Looks like everywhere he goes his critics scream “Photo-op, BAD! Photo-op, BAD! Photo-op BAD! Photo-op, BAD!”
The funny thing is, you guys don’t even realize how silly and tiresome that is getting. Hey, it’s just me, and I only have one vote, but I really don’t think many others are persuaded by that kind of shrewish attack.
Garth… didn’t you just recently say something like Canada should stop being so much the boyscout to the world? If Canada should donate billions of dollars to AIDS research which, may save some lives down the road, why shouldn’t they spend a fraction of that to try to save everyone, not just Canadians (dual citizens or not) from Lebanon?
Do you really expect Harper to be at this AIDS Conference without getting booed off the stage? Health Minister Tony Clement was heckled. I think this event is more about the Anti-Conservative agenda than tackling AIDS. However, with the PM skipping this event, I think more people are actually aware that this Conference even took place. Oliva Chow seems to think that athletes at the Gay Olympics are somehow disabled. I truly am proud of any Canadian (regardless of sexual orientation) placing in any Olympic event. Watch this….
http://video.citynews.ca/ifr_main.jsp?nsid=a2079ba3e:10d1134909d:3172&st=1155649548375&mp=WMP&cpf=true&fr=081506_082115_2079ba3ex10d1134909dxw29a3&rdm=784601.901857066
Lynne Miller, you seem to want to subtly demean people by name calling or twisting their names.
Hence, you are not a person with whom one should try to have a mature debate.
Catherine I apologize for calling you Cathleen.
That’s the only thing I will apologize for.
Was I being subtle Catherine???
Isn’t it a bit of a red herring to talk about if one is mature or not to be able to discuss issues that impact everyone?
Twisting peoples names? His name is Steve isn’t it. Or did George get it wrong again??? Calling him psychotic..well what do you call someone who hates as much as Harper does…Let’s see, the media, academics, supreme court judges, Liberals, small l or L, gays, First Nations people, or any group called “the other”. And Garth Turner..sorry Garth that’s what your sister said!!
Anyway I digress.
Please address the point you made. “They are not doing themselves any favour and what is there agenda?â€
Any way what happened to the Progressive Conservatives I think they morphed into the Regressive Conservatives.
By the way if you get “the Star” newspaper in the Tuesday, August 15 page A2. There is a great column by
Slinger – “Hate is in the air, everywhere I look around.” It’s a good way of looking at thing???
Anyway Catherine have a good day.
Concerned Canadian.
Okay, let’s get the truth out here. Gates started talking about abstinence and was roundly booed. This speaks volumes, all they want is to have more of our tax dollars and pass out condoms. No thanks. If you don’t accept the only tried and true method, you have no business demanding more money from us. Aids is disproportionately given more money than any disease out there. I’d like to see our money go to diseases that aren’t preventable, like leukemia, MD, MS, and some forms of cancer. Until these lefties who think that having more money to fulfill their dream of a sexual utopia is debunked loudly and clearly, more waste and more deaths will occur. Tony Clement was wrong when he said that abstinence isn’t a real solution, look at Uganda.
Canada still hasn’t learned and Aids is increasing here. Stop the sodomy, stop the drug usage, stop sleeping around, wait til marriage and Aids will stop, that I assure you. Until that happens Aids will perpetuate. Closed minds won’t help here.
I am getting really tired of all this AIDS conference crap. I see it all over the media…anything to criticize Harper. The Government sent the HEALTH MINISTER and GG to represent our country. The idea that it is “demanded†of the PM to attend every major conference on every major illness is ludicrous…nobody cares that he didn’t attend the Cancer or Diabetes Conferences!! (By the way, Chretien missed one conference too but we didn’t hear near the complaints about him!)
Newsflash…more people die annually from Dysentary and TB than AIDS and it would cost a fraction of money going to AIDS to stop these types of deaths (in fact AIDS is the 9th biggest killer) but where are the conferences on those illnesses (again, the hypocracy!!)???!! The only illnesses that are currently OVERFUNDED are AIDS and breast cancer, the problem is not more money, the problem is behaviour but nobody wants to talk about that because it is “politically incorrectâ€!! Uganda reduced their AIDS frequency from 30% down to 5% by making it illegal to have sex before marriage. I am not saying that is the ONLY solution obviouly but handing out condoms that will NEVER BE USED is not the answer either, nor is giving anti viral drugs going to do anything for prevention.
This AIDS thing has become solely a left-leaning political “cause-celebre†(witness the “double Bill”) which is probably why Mr. Harper chose not to attend (and maybe because he was too busy trying to figure our how he is going to defend our Northern border once the passage opens up). The science community has largely dropped this conference because there is very little “new scienceâ€, it has been taken over by special interest groups and the “usual suspects†of the left (Jack Layton, Scott Brison, etc).
Lynne…show me any kind of “proof” that Mr. Harper hates any group (and I mean actual links). Have you read his biography? Do you actually know any of his background? He may be a fiscal conservative but I have seen no evidence whatsoever to back up the claims that he is the “far right neocon” that he is made out to be. I have read his biography (written by William Johnson, journalist for the Globe & Mail) and have seen no evidence of such “hate” but rather have read about the many attempts by others (especially the Liberal Party) who made him out to the the “boogyman” to further thier own political agendas.
Maybe you need to stop reading the “red Star”…
Get this everyone, its a photo-op that he went to Nunavut, but it wouldn’t be if he attended the Aids conference. That’s what is being said here by Judy. Very humourous.
The P.M. was correct to put Canada’s issues ahead of the Aids conference. He was elected to govern Canada, NOT to solve the world’s problems. An appearance would only have given his opponents a chance to disrespect him and his views, so Why go there ?
Firstly, I don’t recall the media/lefties critisizing Jean Chretein when he didn’t go to the same conference.
Secondly, if the Outgames were any indication, if Harper would have gave a speech to the delegation, more likely than not he would have been booed off the stage. I don’t blame Harper for not going given that type of maturity.
Thank you Garth,
Once again defying your political stripes to be honest with Canadians.
Chretien should have went too but that doesn’t give people the right to point to his example. That’s poor politics.
What was Harper’s reason for NOT going? This conference was planned long before he was elected and his trip up north could have been scheduled for any time. The ultra religious right are starting to raise their profile and Harper is eating it up.
Ron: AIDS is a major Canadian issue. Thousands of Canadians are undiagnosed which means thousands more are being infected.
Arctic sovereignty pales in comparison. Mr. Harper must first acknowledge that global warming is real and not quack science: our arctic sovereignty cant be threatened until the sea lanes open due to melting and Mr. Harper doesnt believe in global warming threats, so our arctic is diong just fine!!!
Besides , don’t you think he could have handled both?
Sean: Photo op applies when the announcement is meaningless.
Until our P.M. admits that global warming could precipitate the opening of sea lanes in our Arctic regions, he has no need to make proclamations.
Without global warming , countries like America cannot navigate the north and steal our precious resources.
So what is Mr. Harper worried about?
Well, again, Harper’s “scary” is showing. He says he can “take a punch” but he’s afraid to go to the biggest and probably most important AIDS Conference? This conference is about more than just AIDS, it’s about the rights of women and children – human rights.
Harper is a fool. He likes photo-ops playing GI Joe, Captain Canada, Commander-in-Chief who’s going to protect and save Canada (oh I wish he’d stop copying Bush and using the Bush strategists). Bush looks like and is a fool and Harper’s beginning to as well.
Harper just missed the biggest, most important photo-op he could have had – what an idiot. U.S. news media have been covering this conference, it’s an international event and stupid PM is afraid of being booed or something. Ya – Mr. Toughy hides again – from the media and press, AIDS Conference, etc.
Harper is a “chicken” and we all know he bully’s only when someone can’t fight back. Hey, what a man.
He again is ignoring our aborginals – our aboriginal women and children are having a major problem and our PM is not there to support.
Sorry, Garth, I don’t know how in good conscience you can support Harper.
Sandi, don’t you ever get tired of the same old, same old…Yeah, yeah….we’ve all heard about how “scary” Harper is…
I for one can’t wait to see a majority come in so that his government can finally start repairing the 13 years of damage to our health system, justice system, defence, immigration & citizenship, etc…
It looks like the zealots just don’t get it. To win a majority government, we conservatives need to be percieved as moderate. The AIDS conference was a strategic blunder of the highest order.
Trying to Hyjack the riding of one of the few voices of moderation (Mr. Turner) is yet one more example of why Harper’s conservatives will never get a majority! It looks like we will be heading back into politcal wilderness.
I am an average Canadian, not a member of any special interest group, I do not take part in protest etc. I am fed up with the religious right and their narrow ideals. What is a ture progressive conservative to do, I guess vote for the Green Party. Hang in there Mr. Turner!!
Dear Flip,
My son is in the Military and just left this week for another tour in Afganistan. Do I appreciate the PM going to Nunavit, Very, very bad timng! To visit our forgotten people how admirable he should wnt to visit them. But in all his years in opposition he has NEVER gone to visit our forgotten people. Nor is he going to repect the Kelowna accord. The one that would have helped so many of the other forgotten peoples of Canada. Our 1st nations people had worked very hard with the last gov, to come to that accord.
Garth this is my 1st visit to your blog and I was pleasantly surprised by your comments(so Far).
One more comment and then I’ll be quiet.
Does anyone remember that in tthe early days after 1948 when Israael was created in Palestine, that Ariel Sharon was the head of a terrorist organisation to terrorize palestinians to flee there homes. Israel has tripled its borders in this way since the beginning. Why not have Hezbollah and Hamas integrated with their countries millitary just like Isreal has done. The damage and the murder and mayhem would certainly start to reverse itself if Israel could learn to be a good neighbour. First return all the land that it is illegally occupying. Perhaps even make some restitution for all the homes, businesses orchards it has destoyed or stolen. This would go a long way to show their sincerety for peace.
Hey Darren, how extreme can you go when describing Christians. Let’s see, Ultra religious right. You’ve got some problems there bud.
Sandi, I am curious as to what “rights” do you mean in regards to this Aids conference? The right to sodomize, do drugs, have sex with any woman that walks?
I’m not prepared to have more of my tax dollars spent on a disease that is mostly preventable by putting a culture of morality on these people and that starts with the governments and the people who care for the Aids patients. Abstinence is the only way.
If this was a leukemia or MD, MS or even a cancer conference, then I would expect him to help out and maybe even show up, because these diseases, unlike Aids is mostly unpreventable. The Aids rhetoric by people like you is so pompous, you think that everyone should be there and give more money to help give out condoms and whatever else that is similar. Sorry, I believe in responsibility, you screw around, you take the responsibility that comes with it, same with drugs, same with sodomy.
You are a sick man. AIDS is killing millions of heterosexual monogamous people in Africa right now. — Garth
A quick look at Israel’s history will show that most of the “occupied territories” ended up thus after Israel was attacked by the neighbours. It turns out that the Israelis beat off the attackers and actually took land away from the attackers. They should quite probably withdraw from some of the land they captured, however it does seem useful to kep on track of how Israel came to inhabit the land. The moral appears to be that attacking Israel, and losing, is a bad idea
Dear Simone,
I wish your son all the best and hoping for his safe return. I do not know enough about 1st Nations affair so I can’t comment on the Kelowna accord. I hope this government will settle outstanding aboriginal issues in a way that is acceptable to all sides. I am under the impression that the Conservative government will do a better job than any other parties…just my humble opinion.
Flip
Simone:
Please don’t let this be your last visit.
You are a sick man. AIDS is killing millions of heterosexual monogamous people in Africa right now. — Garth
I’m a sick man??? Really??? How are these people getting Aids Garth? Are you telling me that people who do drugs don’t get Aids, how about homosexuals, they don’t get Aids from sodomy?
Here is some more leftwing causes at the Aids conference:
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/function/0,2145,12215_pg_3,00.html
In Toronto, Canada on Wednesday, dozens of sex workers from India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia and the United States staged a protest march at 16th International AIDS Conference. They demanded job security, paid vacation, insurance and health care. The prostitutes were supported by the conference’s co-president, Mark Wainberg, in their effort to achieve a recognised position in society. Many of the world’s sex-workers suffer from HIV/AIDS.
This isn’t a conference to prevent Aids, this is a conference to promote limitless sex and condoms. Just another example folks.
Hey Sean P. Whatever,
I’m referring to the ultra religious right that called people at the event “the AIDS people”, the member of your party that called into an Ottawa radio station and said AIDS was “population control” or the ultra religious right columnist that said Harper shouldn’t go because he “wouldn’t win any votes there anyways.”
So, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe these people are your typical folk but I grew up in a very rural and religious area of the country but we even consider these people a little bit extreme.
Darren, when you use terms like, Ultra religious right, you lose all credibility. What is wrong with saying that Harper wouldn’t win any votes from those people who attend the conference? In case you haven’t noticed, these people by and large, are just there to vent their political frustrations against those who are idealogically opposed to their politics.
I did notice however, that no one can dispute all the points I have made about the many people who contract this disease.