Tories postpone AIDS announcement/Harper: Conference too 'politicized’

[tuvor]

TORONTO -- The federal government will not be making any announcements about boosting funding or other measures to fight HIV-AIDS this week because Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said the issue has become too “politicized.”

Nor will Harper’s government announce whether it plans to renew support for North America’s only safe injection site for drug users in Vancouver - a decision that had the Liberals fuming Thursday.

A spokesman for Health Minister Tony Clement confirmed Thursday that there will be no announcement before the International AIDS Conference in Toronto wraps up Friday and an estimated 31,000 delegates return to their homes around the world.

“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,” press secretary Erik Waddell said by e-mail. “Our government is committed to doing more in the future.

“However, there are no announcements this week while the issue is so politicized.”

http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=ec376d41-e808-4284-9c02-587e9914a676

[MrPrax]

1. Harper says as he politicizes the issue n/t

[daleo]

2. His non-attendance was the most political aspect of the conference

Since when did politicians shy away from events because they are "too political"?

I hope Harper skips the next election too - they say those can get kind of political.