Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
The Speaker: The hon. member for Beauharnois—Salaberry.
Anne Minh-Thu Quach: Mr. Speaker, the government is dragging its feet on funding for community organizations
through the federal initiative to address ***/AIDS in Canada.
Organizations had to wait months before applying for funding
and a number of them may now have to close their doors because of the delays.
Today, we are still in the dark about the Conservatives' proposed new funding formula.
On this World AIDS Day, will the government finally announce the funding criteria and provide an explanation for the delays?
The Speaker: The hon. parliamentary secretary.
Colin Carrie: Mr. Speaker, several community groups across the country are doing excellent work in this area.
Other proposals will be made in the future.
Last year alone, our government invested $42 million in ***/AIDS research.
The speaker: The hon. member for Vancouver East.
Libby Davies: Mr. Speaker, if these organizations are doing excellent work, as the parliamentary secretary says,
then why is the government stalling on giving the information to these organizations?
The fact is these organizations need secure funding now before their doors close.
These organizations work on the front line every day and their services are vital to the quality of life of those living with ***-AIDS.
Without reliable information from the government, their ability to plan for the future is at risk.
There is no rationale for the delay in AIDS funding in Canada.
Why will the government not immediately give stable funding and make it clear that...
The Speaker: Order. The hon. parliamentary secretary.
Colin Carrie: Mr. Speaker, no other government has done more for AIDS and AIDS research than our government.
As I had said in French, there are some community groups across the country that are doing excellent work.
Call for proposals will be done in the near future.
Last year alone our government provided $42 million in ***-AIDS research funding through the CIHR.
If we look at the past, since 2006, CIHR has invested $203.6 million in the fight against ***-AIDS.
I wish the NDP would get on board with those very important initiatives.