Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Canadian AIDS Society on its sixth annual National Aids Awareness Week which wraps up tomorrow. The annual AIDS Awareness Week helps increase awareness about AIDS and raise funds for services and programs.
Many people think that AIDS is only a problem in the cities, but it is also a serious threat in our northern communities. Ignorance of this threat makes it worse, as our people think they do not have to worry about it. There have been few AIDS programs in rural areas.
Healthy Thompson, a volunteer organization in the city of Thompson, is working with Health Canada to address this issue in the Thompson region. It is working to improve treatment, prevention and awareness of AIDS in this area. I applaud Healthy Thompson and I applaud all Canadians who have contributed to a successful week of AIDS awareness activities all over Canada.