Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

AIDS groups fear federal funding cuts

SHANNON MONTGOMERY

Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 4:29 PM EDT 18/05/08

Community groups say they're being kept in dark on government plans to cut millions ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: So typical of the right-wing fundamentalist homophobic ConBorgs. I'm sincerely grateful they are only a minority government - and if they keep this cr&p up that they won't even get that next election. Why they are even thinking about more funding cuts escapes me? Revenues have never been higher. Oh wait - that's right they p&ssed it all away on useless gst cuts and in general have been spending money like drunken whores.
  2. Ryan Ginger from Ottawa, Canada writes: This is obscene. But it doesn't surprise me: the theo-con Harperites have always cut programs without a clear statement of a policy change, and remember when Harper ditched the Toronto AIDS conference? Nice move, Stevo.

    Harper, quit being so secretive: Canadians demand to know where you stand on issues.
  3. Ricky for a Centrist Canada from Canada writes:
    Naturally, if you support proper access to AIDS medications, you're a homosexual or homo-lover, and therefore must be eliminated.

    Such is the Harpercrite way.
  4. mikhail gelovani from vancouver, Canada writes: Once again, the Federal Government is bending over to the demands of big pharmaceutical companies. The optics look good - giving more $$ for AIDS research, but the fact is, there are already millions millions spent on AIDS research and not enough on people suffering, or trying to live a normal life with the disease.

    Looking past the optics it seems as though the Fed's are saying, ' if you've already got AIDS, you're a lost cause. The money is better spent on a cure / vaccine to prevent its spread'.

    Not really prevention of the cause. not really caring.
  5. Slippery Slope from Canada writes: Harperoid and his homophobic minions' days are numbered.
  6. Simply Red from Canada writes: I sincerely hope all of the above posters are going to work for a local non-Con candidate in their riding that will win -- and make sure Harper doesn't get re-elected -- I will be.
    'Cause posting on websites is good -- but working and donating to parties that will Stop Harper is more important.
    If he ever gets a majority -- AIDs funding, arts funding, women's group funding.... they'll all be toast in his service to his Straussian right-wing agenda. As will our independent judiciary...

    And Harper's right: we won't recognize Canada when he's through with it.
  7. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Dovetails neatly with the Darwinian mindset of the RR. They might be able to find some forgiveness, but only after punishment has been meted out, and only for the purposes of feeling morally superior.
  8. L.B. MURRAY from !! from Canada writes: -
    Please, people, we are supposed to be ''at war'' and this is why President Bush said he ''stopped playing golf''...

    So... we are ''at war'' in Afghanistan and we have to make sacrifices to pay for all the war toys, which cost an arm and a leg, not to mention hundreds of billions...

    So.... we are ''at war'' and we should not complain or discuss any cuts in our Health, Education, Whatever services.... we are at war and since we are in a parliamentary democracy...

    Wait a second...

    We're not at war.... We're bringing ''democracy'' to Afghanistan after being told we were there to send little girls to school ....

    Ok, OK, we'd better shut up before we get our liloldbutts sent to Guanto.

    -
  9. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    Have there been any cuts? No.

    Are HIV people going to lose access to health care and medications? No.

    Yet people (including the usual braindead haters on this thread) are making it sound like the CPC wants all HIV people to die off.

    Who's at risk of seeing a pay cut if the 'grants' get adjusted? Apparently, people that 'deal' with HIV infected prisoners, drug abusers, and homosexuals. These groups are demanding continued cash, although what they actually spend it on remains unclear.

    The only sensible long-term solution is a vaccine, and buckets of cash are being devoted to developing this.

    Somebody explain to me what these groups are doing with their grant money. How much does it cost to 'counsel' drug addicts, prisoners, and homosexuals about spreading HIV? Doesn't everybody know about transmission risks?

    Anyway, the squeaky wheel of self-appointed defenders of the HIV population continues to get more attention and cash than children with developmental issues. Nice.
  10. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    Oh, by the way---re Harper and the HIV orgy in Toronto.

    Criticizing Harper for this is like criticizing Obama for skipping out on a KKK rally.

    The HIV cult has designated Harper and the CPC as the 'enemy', and nothing that Harper does will ever change this.

    PS--Who remembers that Harper pledged a quarter BILLION dollars to HIV efforts during this fiesta?

    Exactly my point--it was buried as a 'by the way'.
  11. Piter De Vries from Canada writes: Winston Smith - in fact, how do you know that you aren't a guinea pig for a test sample?
  12. Don Bryant from Calgary, Canada writes: There is only a finite amount of money that can be used for funding of this nature. And, there are innumerable other causes - cancer, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, MS, etc. - that it would be far better to direct the funds to.
  13. Beyazet Ilderim from Scarborough?, Canada writes: Piter De Vries from Canada writes: Winston Smith - I agree. If the AIDS cult wants more money for people with AIDS, they should weaponize the HIV virus and infect whole redneck communities.

    Piter, you're a total imbecile. This thinking is exactly what makes this country so great. It tolerates all the Earth scam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  14. Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: HIV cult - what planet did you mentally challenged people arrive here from? Aids industry? Bllsht. Like I said earlier - the Cons are made up of a bunch of haters. Crawl back into your little holes you Shrub lovers.
  15. Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: And Beyazet - you don't want Aids funding. Well I don't want military funding. Suck it up princess.
  16. mike sty - from Canada writes: Community organizations that support people with HIV or AIDS say they're being kept in the dark about federal government plans
    ----------------------------------
    Stephen Harpers Conservatives do everything in the middle of the night.

    The day is for honest men, the night for thieves.

    Stephen Harper.........The Devil in the Dark
  17. F E from ottawa, Canada writes: Why is there a need to cut funding? We had billions in surplusses and cute taxes, now you cut funding for AIDS group?

    This is obscene!
  18. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: Those who agree with the so called 'liberal thinkers' are greeted with cheers and those who dare to disagree are called names. How in the world can a person debate the issues in that kind of environment?

    We cannot be all things to all people with all conditions. We can at best do an imperfect job no matter what course of action is taken. Myself a vaccine would make sense but not at the expense of creating a climate for risk free intravenous drug use.
  19. Piter De Vries from Canada writes: Beyazet Ilderim - it is a simple strategy. If you want something from someone in power, then you must convince him/her that it is in his/her interests to provide it. Need is weakness that can be manipulated. The CPC still needs the redneck vote - so make them want more funding for AIDS care.
  20. Piter De Vries from Canada writes: Winston Smith - repentance is for sissies and lefties. Power comes from force of will.
  21. Alex MacLean from Toronto, Canada writes: While there MAY be a case to be made for moving money around in the AIDS envelope, and it is not 'unpatriotic' to ask if AIDS service organizations still need to play the same primarily educational role, it needs to be done in consultation with those individuals and advocates who built up this system over many years. It has been quite an achievement to have this disease taken seriously and the afflicted supported (not stigmatized), with the right-wing faction squirming and quarrelling all the way. Those small minds cannot be allowed to destroy what committed advocates for persons with AIDS/HIV have built. Any changes should be done in open air with a full discussion of choices based on experience, policy goals and medical and social scholarship, not fly-by-night cuts by a locked-down, bunker mentality government. Are you listening, John Baird and Tony Clement?
  22. Alex MacLean from Toronto, Canada writes: Daniel Cunningham: DITTO. These people see the big homosexual agenda/conspiracy in everything. Which there may be, but I haven't stumbled upon it yet, despite searching for years!
  23. Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: I'm the liberal nutball? I don't think so. I'm not the one who thinks AIDS is a big conspiracy, or part of some cash grab (that one was truly disgusting) or that people with AIDS should be in concentration camps (which is exactly what you are implying Pankhurst). I also don't have an issue with my sexuality or the sexuality of others - which doesn't seem to be the case with supporters of the ConBorgs. And yeah I am calling the nutballs out on this one - AIDS is still a huge problem - and burying your heads in the sand or where the sun doesn't shine isn't helping the problem. Nor is going after that frontline support groups which actually help people who have this disease. I wonder how many of the pharmaceutical companies who are going to get increases in vaccine research money are supporters of the ConBorgs?
  24. sean smith from Canada writes: I wonder which big pharma corporation will get this money? The lobbiests must be laughing all the way to the bank. This is sick and immoral.
  25. Expert Eel from Canada writes: Gerry Pankhurst from westport ontario, Canada writes: As a proud sexually straight (as opposed to homo sexual)

    Gerry, in order to be straight, you have to have intercourse with the opposite sex.

    you qualify more as a non-sexual.
  26. Liam Smith from Canada writes: Uh oh! Somebody said 'HIV/AIDS'!!!! Que the bigot banter!

    The truth is that this is about redirecting money to the big pharma companies. Same with bill C-51 which is going to ban herbal medicine . . . I hear dandelions are on the controlled substance list.

    Go Harpy!! Woohoo!!
  27. dinkle dorf from Canada writes: current programs aren't wokring. the rate of HIV infection and death has consistently increased over the last decade. no sense beating a dead horse and funding ineffective programs. now a vaccine makes sense. we come up with a vaccine, we can erradicate HIV not only for canadians, but the world. once those already infected expire, we will have an aids free world again. it just makes sense.
  28. Alex MacLean from Toronto, Canada writes: Globing Male, the majority of the world's present AIDS infection takes place in Africa, and is heterosexually transmitted, so your 'prescription' won't work and shows you don't really know what you're talking about. Don't forget that many of the plagues that have swept the earth through history have been very arbitrary. Given that, you're awfully smug for someone who could be struck down the next time a virus jumps the species barrier.
  29. Jennifer Menna from Canada writes: The Globing Male - Last I checked 'straight' people also got aids. Last I heard the group experiencing the largest increase in HIV infections was young adult females.

    Hiv/Aids can hit anyone.
  30. Dan Zenderman from TO, Canada writes:

    This was reported in a CBC news story Feb 20th , 2007 .....

    ..'Ottawa will contribute up to $111 million toward the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative, while the Microsoft founder, through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will donate up to $28 million.'....

    This was done after the Aids conference in which the Gov't of Canada was lambasted by Aids groups .. The CPC could have gained cheap political points by politicizing all of this but chose to go the high route and made the announcement after the conference was over ...out of respect for those suffering from this accursed disease...and not for political points ..

    The arguments that the Govt. of Canada is not supporting Aids research is baloney !..we are doing a lot more than many other countries ! My heart is broken for those poor men , women and children who are stricken by this horrible disease , and Canada is doing it's part to overcome this !
  31. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Dan Zenderman:-- Mr. Harper did not want to go to the AIDS conference, that much was obvious. It wouldn't have played well to his base, evidence of which is to be found on this thread. Mr. Harper did not receive good press for that decision, hence the later announcement - not just after the Conference, as you imply, but some SIX MONTHS later. It took that long to fashion the CPC's damage control response.
  32. Likeable Loser? Vote Liberal! from Canada writes:

    In 2005 , 57 people died of Aids/HIV

    In 2005 , 600,000 people died of cancer .

    Hundreds of community groups are afraid of losing millions?

    They should be.
  33. Bobby Dy from Canada writes: Likeable Loser, and just like the phoney military budget announcement, where Harper made a 20 year commitment to cutting the DND budget (2% per year is a cut because it is below the rate of inflation), Harper has similarly not maintained the CIHR budget, which is who funds a good chunk of the research directed at finding a cure.
  34. Ricky for a Centrist Canada from Canada writes:
    Likeable Loser - check and see how much funding - government and otherwise - is devoted to cancer each year.

    Attitudes like yours - and those above - show how far we still have to go as a society.

    I love how some moralistic idiots still think it's a 'gay' disease (as if that should make some kind of difference).

    Losers, yes.

    Likeable, not so much.
  35. Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: Likeable - you are so full of cr&p. Don't know where you some of your figures from but that cancer mortality rate was for the US, not Canada, you blatant liar.

    Spicy - I think that's a new low for you, you disgusting cretin. Comparing the International Conference on HIV/AIDS to a KKK rally - that really says something about what a loathsome piece of work you are. Do you kiss Harper's feet in your fantasies every night?
  36. P Jones from NB, Canada writes: So now we ALL want access to ALL information, ALL discussions and ALL of the planning going on currently and we want it all NOW. WHY isn't Harper asking for our advice on ALL issues. WHY is my phone NOT ringing off the hook with the CPC looking for my input on ANYTHING and EVERYTHING? WHY am I not receiving any type of update on all of our military's secret plans? WHY is my email box not FULL with ALL of the draft reports that exist within our government. WHY do I not have access to ALL financial statements that the CPC is working on? WHY ... WHY ... WHY?
  37. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    Cunningham--

    Nice try.

    I said the reason was the same.

    Figure it out.

    PS How many name changes now? Ten? We all know who you are.....
  38. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: spicy doc:-- Mr. Harper is loath to press the flesh, to mingle with the crush of humanity, or crush with the diversity of humanity. This much is obvious. He prefers the clinical, the sterile, the performance, the highly controlled. The AIDS Conference, with its crush, babble, and mix, would have been a horror for him. So he escaped, as I recall, to the frigid and less populous North, there to commune with...oh, well. As I have said many times on these fora, Mr. Harper is an architect/stuctural engineer. The people who would occupy what he fashions are somewhat irrelevant, even a nuisance, especially if they want dialogue and debate.
  39. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Read the article my little volatile friends. It is shifting funding to focus AIDS spending it is not reducing it. Spending towards HIV research has increased under this government.
  40. Bob Smitherman from Canada writes: At the end of the day, whether you like it or not, this government is implementing its agenda, little by little. That agenda is based on an odd mixture of darwinian wild west 'every man for himself' with a heavy blend of good old pentecostal phobias against gays, lesbians, women and other religions. We should thus not be surprised that funding reviews will be used to either promote or demote specific social programmes. The rate at which that agenda will be implemented is inversely proportional to the quantity and strength of the various checks and balances that are intended to prevent wild swings in social policy. However those checks and balances have been under attack the last two years and one could only surmise how quickly the agenda would be implemented if the present government ever received a majority. Canadians need to be alert and make their choices at the ballot box accordingly.
  41. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    This whole article is pre-emptive free lobbying on behalf of the HIV community.

    Just like the pre-emptive attack on the 'possible' Insite shutdown.

    The Harper-haters continue to get a free ride.
  42. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Bob Smitherman :Bob, you are tad paranoid...and a bit of a stero-typer as well.
  43. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    diane--

    What would happen if Obama attended a KKK rally?

    Would they listen attentively, assess his opinions, then respond based on the content of his speech?

    Or would they boo him off the stage before he even opened his mouth?

    The HIV festival attendees were p!ssed because they were robbed of a chance to boo the hell out of Harper. Nevermind that the CPC has committed more cash to HIV than the libs ever did.

    It's got nothing to do with your ridiculous 'Harper is an Alien' theories. It has everything to do with the HIV group (and the 'high-risk' people that form it) being irrational and selfish rabblerousing noise-makers.

    As far as these people are concerned, the only thing that matters is HIV--anybody who disagrees is a bigoted homophobe.
  44. Prairie Boy from Canada writes: Nothing has been cut. Maybe instead of the AIDS industry getting all up in arms remember that AIDS is not usually a disease that affects those that have the will to not contract it. Drugs and unprotected sex are a choice at some point in life. Prison the choice ends when you dedide to do something that gets you there.

    I am not unsympathetic but when I hear howling I tend to tune it out. Everyone is fighting to BE a victim instead of choosing to not be one. I don't need a circle of support to figure that out.
  45. mike sty - from Canada writes: Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: Do you kiss Harper's feet in your fantasies every night?
    ----------------------------

    I'll bet his pillowcase has a photo of Harper................

    bent-over
  46. Bob Smitherman from Canada writes: Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Bob Smitherman :Bob, you are tad paranoid...and a bit of a stero-typer as well



    ==================================
    Well, I type with both hands, so if that makes me a stereo-typer then so be it.

    As for being paranoid, well, I'm usually quite laid back about things, but I have been particularly concerned about the methods used by this government to quell resistance. I don't think you could honestly disagree with me here, unless you're viewing their actions through a partisan lens...
  47. Piter De Vries from Canada writes: Daniel Cunningham - spicy is right. If Obama goes to a KKK rally, he would be in considerable danger. When the AIDS conference was going on in Toronto, the Dark Lord was still angry at Harper and had withdrawn his protection. If Stevie boy went to Toronto, Jesus would have cast him in the fire pit where all murderers, pedophiles and rednecks end up.
  48. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: but I have been particularly concerned about the methods used by this government to quell resistance. I don't think you could honestly disagree with me here, unless you're viewing their actions through a partisan lens...

    No, I am not blind and I see what you see. From day one HArper has run a tight ship and not communicated well with the press or Canadians for that matter. I don't like the lawsuits either.

    Explaining my position better is to ask you, why would any PM ewant to institute the changes you describe or have that type of antiquated position. First of all it would be political sucide, secondly, nothing in his past paints anything that extreme.

    It may surpise you to know that Conservatives libe amoungst you. We are all around and 99 times out of 100 you can't tell us from yourself. We care for, act and behave in the same manner. We just view the government as being less involved in our lives and not buying into a government that prescribes to large and adminstrativly expensive programs that are ussually not successful.
  49. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Sorry. My above post was addressed to Bob Smitherman from Canada and included his first paragraph
  50. ah sails from Canada writes: spicy doc...we're far from getting a free ride we're having to tolerate a secretive, coniving, manipulative, dis-trustful, un-compassionate, intolerant, luddite, MINORITY Government
  51. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: spicydoc:-- Sorry for the earlier error on your 'name'. The KKK thing is B.S. and you should know better, but apparently you don't. Mr. Obama shunned the Jena 6 rallies because he wanted to be thought of as a candidate, not a black candidate. The International Aids Conference is not an 'orgy' (unfortunate choice of word on your part, but perhaps intentional) but a respected event attended by the very couple (Melinda and Bill Gates) whose coattails Mr. Harper later saw fit to ride. I realize that you are bating me as is your wont, but Happy Victoria Day Weekend to you, too.

    Bob Smitherman:-- That is an excellent post, describing the bit-by-bit (incremental, to use Mr. Flanagan's term) incursions from both ends. Many recognize that it is happening even if some of the negative response is at the 'gut' level.
  52. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    ah sails--

    Yes I know. Isn't it wonderful? Too bad there isn't a non-nauseating alternative to Harper.

    If the LPC hadn't allowed Dion to slime the leadership away from a decent candidate, we'd all be happier.

    Ultimately everything that you guys complain about is the fault of Gerard Kennedy.
  53. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: ah sails from Canada writes: we're far from getting a free ride we're having to tolerate a secretive, coniving, manipulative, dis-trustful, un-compassionate, intolerant, luddite, MINORITY Government
    ------------------------------------------
    Ah sails you left out ...baby eating, war mongering, knuckle draggers.

    Get with the program.
  54. Bob Smitherman from Canada writes: Shawn writes: It may surpise you to know that Conservatives libe amoungst you. We are all around and 99 times out of 100 you can't tell us from yourself. We care for, act and behave in the same manner. We just view the government as being less involved in our lives and not buying into a government that prescribes to large and adminstrativly expensive programs that are ussually not successful.


    Well I certainly won't question your character, nor the character of people like you, but I will disagree with you on the point about recognising conservatives. I can spot them a mile away. :)

    Anyway, all I'm saying is that Canadians need to be aware of 'the agenda' when they make their ballot choices in the next few months. Which is why I hope the campaign will be based on ideas rather than negative attacks, which is another grudge I hold against Harper and his politicos.

    Anyway thanks for your comments - I have to drop out now. Cheers.
  55. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    diane--

    You continue to dodge my point:

    Harper would have been booed mercilessly regardless of what he said at the rally. Why should he give them the satisfaction? He still committed more cash to HIV than Martin did (and Martin had a flare for photo-ops).

    Your dodging of this confirms that you know this is true.
  56. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    smithy and diane--

    You guys keep on going on about the dreaded incremental hidden agenda.

    If it is so hidden, why are you two such experts on it?

    Drifting into 9/11 conspiracy-freak territory, guys....
  57. Piter De Vries from the temple of the tory god, Canada writes: Shawn Bull - Harper is not a conservative though. He is so Lieberal that he even changed his party affiliation to what was easiest to gain power. In Toronto he was a staunch Liberal. But when he went to Calgary where the PC was popular, he had to be a Tory. Then when the Reform party rose in popularity - he stabbed his boss and mentor in the back and joined the Reform. Harper is so Lieberal that he makes the AdScam folk look like saints.
  58. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: spicydoc:-- So, Mr. Harper is afraid to be booed? He wants to go only where he is lauded and applauded? Isn't he supposed to be Mr. Tough? Didn't Mr. Dion, who is supposed to be the weaker of the two, stand up to the nationalists/separatists in Quebec? In reality, Mr. Harper is following the Rove Handboo:. Go only where the reception will be flattering, even if you have to manufacture it yourself.
  59. Bob Smitherman from Canada writes: spicydoc - it's becoming less secret all the time. I think Canadians are getting a real taste of where Mr. Harper is headed. Thus giving him access to the full set of levers reminds us of the old axiom about power and absolute power.

    As for your comment about conspiracy-freak territory, a bit uncalled for wouldn't you agree?
  60. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Correction: Handboo has a certain ring, but I meant handbook.
  61. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    diane--

    You are starting to come around...

    I remember how Trudeau dealt with unhappy citizens--now that was class.. :)
  62. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    Smithy--

    I thought you were leaving...why are you so dishonest?
  63. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    diane--

    Rove is long-gone. Bush is lame-ducking it.

    Are you planning on continuing the Rove-Bush silliness for the next 9 years??
  64. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Piter De Vries from the temple of the tory god, Canada writes: Shawn Bull - Harper is not a conservative though. He is so Lieberal that he even changed his party affiliation to what was easiest to gain power. In Toronto he was a staunch Liberal. But when he went to Calgary where the PC was popular, he had to be a Tory. Then when the Reform party rose in popularity - he stabbed his boss and mentor in the back and joined the Reform. Harper is so Lieberal that he makes the AdScam folk look like saints.
    ------------------------
    I'm not a Harper fan. I am a fan of smaller government...and before you go there I know he is not doing that and will not be able to do so until the party becomes more progressive and less reform. That comes with MP's from Toronto which is far, far away from a Conservative possibility.

    However the alternative of Dion and Liberal big programs scares the crap out of me.

    I wish there was an alternative. A new party that can bring us Canada's potential which I feel we as a nation are far from achieving everything we can...but that person and or party is not out there right now. So I park my vote with what I see as the best choice available. The Conservatives.
  65. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    Shawn--

    Ignatieff vs Prentice in 2010.

    Keep the faith.
  66. Don Adams, The Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: Thank goodness for the Cons.... slowly strangling the administration of the special interest groups. The Libs bent over backwards to them,, funding them. All they are is make work projects for people of a certain bent. You guys want more money to do your 'thing'? Then go out and raise it.....NO MORE GOV'T HANDOUTS. I fully agree the best way to go is through funding research and finding a vaccine....maybe research will even come up with a cure for presently infected people.... I'd be happy about that too. But for far, far, too long now taxpayers $$ have gone to the squeaky wheels of these types of organizations. I'd be happy to see all of your funding cut, forcing you to raise money on 'the street', or through churches etc...... if you can't raise it, it means Canadians aren't interested in your special interest, so it should be allowed to die. But, since I am a Centrist, and you are all Canadians........I' m willing to meet you half way.... a dollar for dollar matching scheme....the gov't matches anything you raise, and you have to live within that budget.

    I'll now be castigated on this post for this stance, but, as the old saying goes 'tough titty said the kitty but the milk was good' :-)
  67. Bob Smitherman from Canada writes: spicydoc--Are you planning on continuing the Rove-Bush silliness for the next 9 years??



    =================================
    Can we count on you then to stop harping about previous Canadian governments?

    (outta here now - just couldn't resist)
  68. Bob Smitherman from Canada writes: ...outta here, and not a minute too soon. Adams joins. There goes the neighbourhood. Average IQ drops by half...
  69. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    Smithy (I know you are still there--people like us can't resist peeking)--

    Trudeau's flip and fuddle-duddle were the high water marks of Prime Ministerial mob management.

    Harper stays away from hate-fests because he knows he could never be as good as the 'master'.

    PS--Chretien's choke-hold was excellent too....
  70. Don Adams, The Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: Still haven't headed out to the bull barn to top up Smithy? :-)
  71. Bob Smitherman from Canada writes: You're right, I peeked. We definitely agree on this one. Cheers.

    (Maybe Harper would redeem himself with a 'with us or against us'-style speech - that'd sure to get some tongues wagging...)
  72. Piter De Vries from the temple of the tory god, Canada writes: Don Adams - What's your address? I know the guy who raises money for the AIDS Committee of Toronto (who happens to be a hardcore Catholic and conservative). He'll be glad that you're going to donate over $50K to ACT this year.
  73. Don Adams, The Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: And you're still down a qt. Smithy. :-) Tell me what's wrong with a dollar for dollar matching program. If you can. :-)
  74. Piter De Vries from the temple of the tory god, Canada writes: Don Adams - my bad, I thought you were going to donate the money out of your pocket, instead of the govt's.
  75. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Shawn Bull:-- Are you still buying that 'tax-and-spend' B.S.? No Liberal forced Mr. Harper to engage in record program spending, not to mention generous vote-buying - money not well spent, apparently. There is no way that the Reform/Alliance miasma will ever find acceptance with mainstream Canadians. There are two problems: Mr. Flanagan could not have chosen a more charmless protege, and he underestimated Canadians' ability to perceive the incremental approach for what it is. A further problem is that American-style conservatism is on the ropes: dated, bankrupt, discredited, and exhausted.
  76. Piter De Vries from the temple of the tory god, Canada writes: Don Adams - the 'problem' with your dollar-for-dollar scheme is that the AIDS organizations in the big cities can out-raise anything that small towns and rural areas can. So what would happen is that groups in smaller cities would get a cut in federal funding, while the ones in big cities like Toronto would get more money than they currently do. Somehow, I can't imagine that sitting well with the CPC brass.
  77. Don Adams, The Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: Phil De Vries, yep, I'm reluctantly willing to have taxpayers money donated to Aids.... in a dollar for dollar matching program. I'm against them getting 80% or more of their funding from the taxpayer. And I say reluctantly, as I'd prefer the Gov't didn't donate one red cent to administration and operation of the Aids group, but, being a centrist, and wanting to be fair to all, would accept a dollar for dollar scheme. No problem with the Gov't funding vaccine research though.

    Would I personally donate to them? Nope. Not my charity. I only donate to Heart and Stroke, Cancer, and CHEO.
  78. Don Adams, The Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: Phil.... I mean as a whole....NOT on a group by group basis, and your group spread the money out among all smaller groups.
  79. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: diane marie from calgary: I thought my previous post stated that this version of the Conservatives is more reform than progressive. I also expressed that I was not comfortable with that. However, I will take this version of the Conservatives over a big program based government.

    The proof is in the proof. The Liberals like big expensive programs that are expensive and not very successful. This version of the L:iberals wants national daycare as an example. We already wasted $5 billion on that dumb a$$ $100 month waste. A national daycare would make that waste look small.
  80. Don Adams, The Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: If you guys figure there's not enough money, guess you'll just have to cut back on the # of groups....no groups for small towns....handle those out of the nearest large center.
  81. Bert Russell Paradox, BC from Canada writes:
    The Aid Lobby doesn't need any more hyperbole from the Liberal lefties. Aid research has received billions and as it is not a death sentence now, it is time to direct some of the billions to cancer, mental illness and the homeless.

    Diane Marie: (Harpy for short) .... your Liberal establishment, including Trudeau forward were not so sympathetic for such causes, although I must say Alan Rock and Ann M (hysterical rant of Edmonton) sure jumped for the womens vote in Quebec to spend billions on a useless long gun registry, mugging and criminalizing millions of innocent firearm owners. I suppose some future Liberal Government (20yrs) will apologize to firearms owners for legislating away their Charter rights.
  82. I. C. from Brunei Darussalam writes: Alex MacLean from Toronto, Canada writes: Globing Male, the majority of the world's present AIDS infection takes place in Africa, and is heterosexually transmitted, so your 'prescription' won't work and shows you don't really know what you're talking about.

    Alex, most African states outlaw homosexuality. That means there are no homosexuals in Africa, right? Well, no. So if an African man contracts HIV/AIDS, he has a major incentive to say to officials that he got it from a female prostitute. Either that, or face some jail time. Also, add in the male only transient work camps and deep seeded cultural taboos about being gay, most African homosexuals are 'gay by night and straight by day'.

    So your alarmist statements about the coming 'plague' of heterosexually transmitted HIV/AIDS are unfounded. This has been known for 20 years now. Try to keep up with the tour.
  83. CD W from Canada writes: Darwin is speaking, anyone listening?
  84. Don Adams, The Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: Ricky. You been told yet today? You're about to be. :-)
  85. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Don Adams:-- Your reasoning is flawed. Apparently, you don't mind if the taxpayer fully funds such self-inflicted medical costs as those incurred by, for example, heavy smokers or drinkers. You don't even mind the cost to the taxpayer of funding the attempted prevention of such addictions. You just have a problem if similar (but, I suspect, much smaller) sums are spent on AIDS. In this view, I think, you display your particular conservative preferences on the sin scale of things.
  86. Piter De Vries from the temple of the tory god, Canada writes: Don Adams - look at ACT's financial records - only half their revenue in 2006-7 came from the govt and in previous years they got much less. It is definitely way less than 80%.
  87. Don Adams, The Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: About the only thoughtful comment I've seen you make Ricky....must have taken 4 or 5 seconds of massive brainwork to come up with :-)

    You have a headache now, after all that thought? :-)
  88. Piter De Vries from the temple of the tory god, Canada writes: CD W - if we keep subsidizing rednecks - who would all die off without govt money - then no, I don't think people are listening to Darwin.
  89. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Shawn Bull:-- We have a choice: we can either attempt to increase immigration in order to compensate for our low birth rate, or we can help parents with child care. Slush sent to parents who don't require it for the purpose of 'child care' when none is actually available in the quantities required is equally ineffective. I might add that the biggest and most unsuccessful program extant is Afghanistan.
  90. Likeable Loser? Vote Liberal! from Canada writes:

    Ricky for a Centrist Canada:

    Never did I mention ' gay'.

    The city of Ottawa has 42 agencies who's liveihood depend on needle exchange , homeless and drug addictions with an underlying Aids/ HIV mantra.

    Seems a little excessive for a city of less than a million , don't cha think?
  91. Don Adams, The Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: Oh geez DM. Onto the smokers are we? OK. I don't know the exact numbers....easy to look up if I had to... but sweetheart, with all the taxes smokers pay, they've MORE than covered their medical costs. And, lets not forget they don't live as long, so there's extra money from tobacco taxes goes into general health coffers.

    No, I really don't give a damn about addictions. People made their choice and got hooked. But, if we could come up with a drug that'd cure them, ok, spend money on developing it. Spend thousands on 'supporting' them? Only if the Gov't allows drugs to be purchased in pharmacies, taxes the h*ll out of them like tobacco products, then OK as they'd have prepaid through the taxes.

    As for the death rate among addicts? I really don't give a damn. They got that way through choice. Hey, I got into drugs hot and heavy as a young person, grass and hash. Tried cocaine. Man, I LOVED the effect! Tried it a second time...same wonderful effect! BUT, I said 'No More' this stuff is so great it can hook me. Not going there. The ones who get hooked are the ones without the inner fortitude to quit early on, so I've got no sympathy for them.
  92. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    IC from Brunei--

    You make some excellent points re HIV stats in Africa.

    The other factor is medically simpler:

    To contract HIV, you need to get the dam thing into your bloodstream--in actual fact, it is fairly hard to 'catch'. Ergo iv drugs (right into the blood) and gay sex (usually receptive anal sex with the associated mucosal trauma). Interestingly, gay neb that stick to oral sex are low risk.

    Anyway, in Africa, there are numerous nasty penile infections that have open sores--these are an entry point for the virus. Contagion increases.

    More infected men means more infected women (rough vaginal sex, anal sex, or similar verereal access lesions means easier spread).

    Anyway anyway--research for cures and vaccines is the answer--millions for hand-holding groups in Canada is a waste of valuable resources.
  93. Piter De Vries from the temple of the tory god, Canada writes: Likeable Loser - yeah, but that's like all of northern Ontario. They live off of the GTA like leeches.
  94. Ricky for a Centrist Canada from Canada writes:
    LOL @ Adams the pretend centrist and wannabe fascist.
  95. Likeable Loser? Vote Liberal! from Canada writes:

    Bobby Dy:

    I see that you are still plugging the DND annoucement and how wrong Harper's numbers are.

    Were you happier with the funding from JC , Paul Martin and the Liberals over their 13 year regime?

    Ever see a Sea King helicopter?
  96. Don Adams, The Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: No Ricky, just a realist :-)
  97. Don Adams, The Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: Spicy, I fully agree with you about the hand holding groups as opposed to research for cures and vaccines. But common sense won't win over these losers...they're going to fight tooth and nail....hey, they don't want their personal gravy trains upset and be forced to go out into the real world and actually have to work to support themselves. They're the biggest part of the problem...addicts die off, the groups just keep getting bigger and bigger, bringing in friends and family to enjoy the largesse.
  98. Don Adams, The Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: And, then there's losers like Ricky :-)
  99. Ricky for a Centrist Canada from Canada writes:
    Oh wow, is that really the best you have?

    LOL

    You neofascist types are a joke...
  100. David Simon from Canada writes: Since health care is a provincial responsibility I see no reason why the provinces should not be filling in any money that the Feds don't give.
  101. Piter De Vries from the temple of the tory god, Canada writes: spicydoc - you can transmit AIDS through vaginal sex - through the fluid exchange. Sores are not necessary - though they do increase the risk.
  102. spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    Piter--

    Indeed. I do believe, however, that the worst thing in Africa re their horrible numbers is the bulbos and chancroids and other open access points for transmission.

    Not to mention we should be sending way more meds there.
  103. Piter De Vries from the temple of the tory god, Canada writes: Don Adams - the biggest gravy train is still welfare for rednecks. Cut off that and there is money for lots of programs and a tax cut to boot.
  104. Bobby Dy from Canada writes: Likeable Loser, if you actually look at the DND budget, you will see that the last few years of the LPC government had increases in spending well beyond the 2% that the CPC are proposing. The budget of DND saw several 10% increases since 1999, when the budget bottomed out. Moreover, the military was allowed to spend approximately $1 billion over budget between 1999 and 2005. The first CPC budget was the only budget where the DND allocation grew beyond what the LPC had invested since 1999. The projected CPC budget commitment for the next twenty years is well below the rate of growth under the LPC.
  105. Freddie Fender from Canada writes: Just say no to needles and anal sex.
  106. Pickman's Modem from Canada writes: spicydoc--That'll do, spicydoc, that'll do... from Canada writes:

    To contract HIV, you need to get the dam thing into your bloodstream--in actual fact, it is fairly hard to 'catch'.

    -------------------------

    Well, kind of. It's more difficult for men to catch it without tears/sores being present; but this isn't true for women. They are much more likely to seroconvert just from exposure to infected semen than the reverse.

    'Hard to catch' or no, AIDS funding is not something that we should be cutting back on. Our $26M donation to the Gates Foundation for researching the cure is a drop in the bucket. The GF has more money to throw at this than a lot of countries. That money is better spent in our communities, coming up with specific strategies for our communities.
  107. Likeable Loser? Vote Liberal! from Canada writes:

    Bobby Dy:

    Mulroney pledged 50 helicopters.
    JC cancelled it. Cost 500 million.Said he find a better deal. Still waiting.

    Rather than get into a lot of 0000's , Put it this way.

    Martin spent $5 = 2% = $5.10
    Harper in comparison spends $12 = 2%= $12.24.

    When you look at % of initial spending , Harper is still doing more.
    The Liberals had no choice but to increase spending because they put us in Afghanistan and media pressure over 'green fatigues' shamed them into it.

    Harper could promise the ' world ' to military in future spending but without a majority and putting something into law , it's an empty promise which can be overturned by another govt. on a whim . [ JC]

    I don't think he works that way.

    Only time will tell.
  108. dinkle dorf from Canada writes: if we shouldnt have to pay for the fallout of people's lifestyle choices when they say smoke cigarettes... why should we pay for their unhealthy lifestyle choices of IV drug habits or gay lifestyles? if smokers can be attacked based on their social burden on healthcare, then these people ought to be in the same boat. help them quit sure, but support their habbits? nonsense. besides, a vaccine will do far more good than printing stupid posters and handing out condoms.
  109. Dan Zenderman from TO, Canada writes:

    People...There are millions of people worldwide , and thousands of Canadians suffering from this horrible disease ...and all we can do is spit and scratch at the government while thousands suffer .

    If there was less political BS and more sincere care for those who are suffering , we might get somewhere with finding the cure for AIDS...I have a good friend who is fighting this disease ..no matter how it was contracted , this person has it ..and time is running out until a cure is found ..I don't think this person cares about political orientation and BS politics...

    I for one , would rather see the money go into direct research and treatment than into middlemen and political groups trying to promote their divisive agendas !...so please get off it ..
  110. SN Dream from Canada writes: dinkle dorf from Canada writes: if we shouldnt have to pay for the fallout of people's lifestyle choices when they say smoke cigarettes... why should we pay for their unhealthy lifestyle choices of IV drug habits or gay lifestyles? if smokers can be attacked based on their social burden on healthcare, then these people ought to be in the same boat. help them quit sure, but support their habbits? nonsense. besides, a vaccine will do far more good than printing stupid posters and handing out condoms.
    -----------------------------------
    So you are suggesting we should not paying lung cancer treatment for smoker now or is that's the case now already?

    First, AIDS are not only limit to Gays people and drug addicts only. As a matter of facts, lesbians have lower risk of getting Aids than heterosexuals couples. If you use condoms, you also have lower risk either you are straight or gay than those who doesn't use condoms.

    The worst thing about smoking is that it cause lung cancer to others around them, as a matter of facts second hands smoking even more harmful than the actual smoking itself. On the other hand, the theory about how gay people will make others gay are totally ridiculous, if so heterosexual being the majority and still doesn't make every homosexual person straight, I doubt the other way will work. Most of the case of straight people turn gay like those of Ted Haggard, Larry Craig are all from the homophobia right wing camp. So either the so called 'Pro-family' value camp should host their meeting in a gigantic closet next time or they are the only thing in the world that's actually capable of turning people gay.

    Of course a vaccine will be the best, but between the vaccine came out and now, condoms is the best solution we have. Also, if Harper want to cut money because of the donation to the Gates Foundation, he should make the cut it from foreign aides, not from domestic health care.
  111. Alex MacLean from Toronto, Canada writes: Freddie Fender, JUST SAY NO didn't work. They still give it the old college try in the US War on Drugs which is a $35 billion/yr dismal failure. To reduce it all to the level of individual choice ignores the social indicators of HIV disease transmission such as poverty, health, occupation, location, and the global status of women.
  112. Bert Russell Paradox, BC from Canada writes:
    Money for Aids prevention??? Has anyone not received the message yet?
    More research to help prevent it? Is there anyone in Canada who has aids that doesn't receive medication?? Do they not know how to prevent passing it on??
    There is no sure cure for cancer, mental illness, ALS the list goes on and on .... but AIDS is preventable!!
  113. Brenton E. from Canada writes: The Socreds, one must respect their zeal, Mike Harris returns Ontario to a 60 hr week and Harper tries to get us back to those warm cuddly days of Reagan.
  114. J.C. Davies from Canada writes:
    Another Liberal Party smear job disguised as news.
  115. John Percy from Canada writes: mikhail gelovani from vancouver, Canada writes: Looking past the optics it seems as though the Fed's are saying, ' if you've already got AIDS, you're a lost cause.'

    Mikhail, the CPC politics on this situation is: Dead people don't vote.
  116. Gardiner Westbound from Canada writes:
    In a perfect world there would be unlimited government funding. We have to live in this world. Funds have to be shared among worthy causes.
  117. My 2 Cents from Canada writes: It is my understanding that the funding that Aids programs etc, get in Canada is totally dis-proportionate to the actual low number of people who have this very fatal, yet preventable disease.

    It is a complicated issue, but don't forget, that Aids charities are strongly supported by celebrities and Hollywood.....it gets way more attention, than say Melonoma, or Colon cancer.
  118. S Boatright from Canada writes: I think one statement in the article speaks volumes about what the REAL fear is for many of these groups: 'Groups worried about having to lay off staff and ditch programs have been asking the government for months to provide a firm amount — province by province — on how much will be cut, said Susan Cress, chairwoman of the Alberta Community Council on HIV.'

    They are worried about losing their jobs - not improving the health of Canadians afflicted with HIV.