Mr. Speaker, having witnessed firsthand the ravages of AIDS in Africa, the Canadian Alliance Party and I would like to join the worldwide call to address the HIV-AIDS crisis through cheaper drugs.
During my visit to Kenya where I spent considerable time, I saw how in a few short years AIDS had become a human tragedy, leaving behind orphans, widows and economic slowdown.
The Canadian Alliance supports efforts by the government to facilitate the delivery of drugs to developing countries to deal with public health emergencies, such as the HIV crisis in Africa.
Our party also believes that we as policy makers must strike a balance between developing new drugs and providing those drugs at affordable prices.
People's lives are at stake. Canada has always stood with the disadvantaged. The time has come for Canada to stand again and take a lead.