Mr. Speaker, this week is national AIDS awareness week and I would like to take this opportunity to address the House on this very important issue.
As most Canadians know, AIDS is a deadly disease. By the end of 1997 Health Canada had reported a total 15,528 AIDS cases since the beginning of the epidemic. Many of these cases have ended in death.
I think it is important, especially during this week, to emphasize the risks and dangers of this horrible disease. Only through public awareness and education can we attempt to solve this problem. In recent years the level of reported cases has dropped, but there is still much ground to cover.
I urge all Canadians to find out more about AIDS and to help in the fight against it. We must and we will defeat this terrible disease.