Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
Thank you, Mr. Minister, and all your staff for being here today.
I would also like to acknowledge the presence in this room of Dr. Frank Plummer, who I think all of our committee would like to congratulate in terms of his Order of Canada award in recognition of his great contribution here in Canada and internationally. I just want to put on the record our thanks and appreciation.
I would like to pick up on the AIDS funding issue for just a moment. I know you've mentioned in your speech some increase, and some would argue—rightfully so, I think—this is really just a rollover of previous money committed under the former government. The biggest concern we have is that it would appear that in fact you are reducing moneys to the AIDS community action program. There has already been confirmation that Ontario is being cut back some $26 million over the next five years, and that money—I don't know where it's going—is being cut back out of ACAP. Lots of groups, as you know, are writing us. They're concerned. The Public Health Agency is reviewing this whole area. There's a real belief that this money plays an important role. The AIDS community action program is important in terms of education and prevention.
Can you confirm that this is happening and that there are reductions to ACAP being planned over a period of time?