September 10, 2008 - The Canadian AIDS Society is encouraging Canadians to keep on walking, even after the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life is over. "During the upcoming federal election, we encourage all Canadians to find out where our leaders stand in terms of supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS in Canada. We want them to walk straight to voting stations across the country and send a clear message about the leadership needed to stem HIV in Canada," says Monique Doolittle-Romas, Executive Director of the Canadian AIDS Society.

HIV/AIDS is an illness caused by many social determinants, including poverty, homelessness, marginalization, discrimination and stigma. A government with progressive social policies can help prevent new cases of HIV and improve the quality of life for those who are most vulnerable to HIV, as well as for those already infected and affected by it. For instance, support of harm reduction programs, which have been researched extensively and have been shown to save lives, can significantly reduce the risk of HIV and hepatitis C transmission.

"Leadership means supporting community-based AIDS service organizations already working in HIV/AIDS. It means ensuring the return of $84.4 million in funding promised to the Federal Initiative on HIV/AIDS in Canada back in 2004," explains Gerry McConnery, Canadian AIDS Society Chair. The community HIV/AIDS movement in Canada experienced a $20 million shortfall over the past two years, with funds having been diverted to a new national vaccine initiative. While the Canadian AIDS Society recognizes the importance of a vaccine, it also knows that a vaccine is years away. In the short term, the best way to stem the epidemic in Canada is for community AIDS service organizations to continue and enhance their prevention and education work, as well as to provide care, support, treatment and harm reduction programs that respond to the needs of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Canadian AIDS Society calls on you to walk to your voting station and vote in favour of supporting all Canadians living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Don't walk away from your responsibility.

Canadian AIDS Society
The Canadian AIDS Society is a national coalition of over 125 community-based AIDS organizations from across Canada. Dedicated to strengthening the response to HIV/AIDS across all sectors of society, we also work to enrich the lives of people and communities living with HIV/AIDS. We accomplish this by advocating on behalf of people and communities affected by HIV/AIDS, facilitating the development of programs, services and resources for our member groups, and providing a national framework for community-based participation in Canada’s response to AIDS.

For more information, please contact:

Tricia Diduch, Communications Consultant
Canadian AIDS Society
190 O’Connor St, Suite 800
Ottawa, ON K2P 2R3
Ph: 1.800.499.1986 ext. 130
E-mail: triciad@cdnaids.ca