Canadian Prime Minister On Canada's Fight Against AIDS and HIV

"I certainly don’t need to tell those in attendance that the global HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of the most heart-wrenching health crises the world has ever seen. HIV/AIDS is a killer that must be stopped. While the ultimate goal is to develop a cure, we must also work on preventative measures to halt the spread of this disease... and to contribute to the global effort to develop safe, effective, affordable, and globally accessible HIV vaccines. The benefits of the Canadian initiative will be numerous. There is no doubt the development of an effective HIV vaccine is one of the greatest scientific challenges of our time. But Canada is up to the task, because we’re a global leader. Through today’s initiative, Canada, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, will provide the resources necessary to help realize this worthy goal, thus sparing millions of people from the horrific reality of HIV/AIDS." Prime Minister Stephen Harper, February 20, 2007