AIDS AWARENESS FOR MOST

Councillor Rob Ford, for the latest in his "know nothing" tirades at
council.

Just hours after officials from the AIDS 2006 conference came to thank
the city for its stellar support of an event expected to draw 23,000
international delegates here next month, the right-wing councillor
known for his angry outbursts could not contain himself during a
council debate on public-health grants for community-based
AIDS-prevention programs.

"It's very preventable," he said of AIDS. "If you're not doing needles
and you're not gay, you won't get AIDS, probably," he said, sparking
immediate groans from his colleagues.

He was especially incensed about the use of city funds to hire
outreach workers for AIDS education and provide condoms to
prostitutes, both seen as effective methods of prevention.

"Kyle Rae, you might condone it," he said, referring to the gay
councillor for Toronto-Centre-Rosedale, who helped bring the
international event to Toronto. "I don't condone it and neither do the
taxpayers."

But after Mr. Ford's allotted five minutes had expired, his infuriated
colleagues refused to give him any more air time (the normal courtesy).

Mr. Rae, who with others approved the AIDS funding, was dismissive of
Mr. Ford's rant.

"I don't think it is worthy of this council to respond to the comments
we heard a few moments ago," he said. "There are some who can be
educated, and some who cannot."