TORIES SCRAP AIDS POLICY STATEMENT

Issue Too 'Politicized'; Grit Surgeon Calls Move 'Pathetic'

TORONTO - Accused of lacking leadership as Canadian hosts of an
international HIV/AIDS conference, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's
government has cancelled related policy announcements "while the issue
is so politicized."

The statement by a spokesman for Health Minister Tony Clement came
yesterday -- after four days of pummeling by critics over Mr. Harper's
absence from the International AIDS Conference in Toronto and his
government's refusal to say whether it will allow the renewal of a
safe-injection-site program for drug users in Vancouver.

"The Government of Canada is strongly committed to the fight against
HIV/AIDS and continues to commit a significant amount of money to this
issue," spokesman Erik Waddell said in an e-mailed statement
yesterday. "Our government is committed to doing more in the future.
However, there are no announcements this week while the issue is so
politicized."

Mr. Waddell said neither Mr. Clement nor International Co-operation
Minister Josee Verner would make announcements this week.

Both ministers attended the conference and had been expected to make
announcements before it ends today.

At a Toronto news briefing, federal Liberal leader Bill Graham
criticized Mr. Harper for not attending the conference.

"I understand that the prime minister has now said he is not going to
come because the conference has been politicized," he added. "It's
like blaming the victim; but unfortunately the victim in this case is
people dying of HIV around the world."

Mr. Graham also joined forces with safe-injection-site supporters
urging Mr. Harper to allow the site in B.C. to stay open.

There are only two legal safe-injection sites in North America, both
in Vancouver.

At InSite in Vancouver's downtown east side, users are given clean
equipment and supervised by medical staff as they inject drugs such as
heroin or cocaine.

The centre also offers counselling to drug users.

At issue is a special three-year exemption from federal drug laws
granted by the federal Liberals to InSite.

The exemption expires next month and counsellors at the centre are
waiting for the Harper government to decide whether it will extend
it.

"Canada must make all efforts necessary to beat this AIDS epidemic,"
Mr. Graham told reporters. "We have a model in Vancouver that's
working. It's supported by the police, the mayor of Vancouver and the
premier of the province. We strongly encourage the government of
Canada to do the same."

Mr. Harper said earlier this year he is philosophically opposed to
safe-injection sites but would wait for evidence of InSite's
effectiveness before making a decision.

InSite released an extensive study at the AIDS conference earlier this
week, which they say is irrefutable evidence that the centre is saving
lives and preventing the spread if HIV.

Mr. Graham said it was "regrettable" that Mr. Clement didn't announce
an extension of Insite's exemption when he appeared earlier this week
at the AIDS conference.

"It would have been a remarkable opportunity to say that Canada is
taking a leading role in dealing with this terrible epidemic," he said.

The Liberal leader also urged Mr. Harper to follow the example of
former U.S. president Bill Clinton who told the AIDS conference
earlier this week that he was wrong to oppose safe injection sites
when he was in the White House.

Dr. Keith Martin, the Liberal foreign affairs critic who is a surgeon,
condemned the government's decision in a statement.

"It is reprehensible that with 40 million people infected worldwide,
and 14 million orphans, (the Conservatives) have chosen to stick their
heads in the sand," he said.

"People are dying and by remaining silent the prime minister and the
Canadian government are missing an opportunity to lead the world into
action and save lives," he said.

"Their inaction is nothing less than pathetic."