Mr. Speaker, December 1 is World AIDS Day. It is a time to remember that too many lives have been affected by HIV and AIDS, to thank the people on the front lines who work with HIV-infected individuals, and to raise public awareness.
In 2016, more than 63,000 people were living with HIV across Canada, and we saw an 11% increase in the number of reported cases.
We are therefore very concerned about the fact that some community organizations may have to shut down because of a lack of funding. Many people are reporting a decline in services for individuals living with HIV and their families. If we want to end the stigma associated with HIV-AIDS and prevent the virus from spreading, we must continue to invest in a variety of approaches.
If we truly want a future without HIV-AIDS, we all have to work together.