*updated - international fallout!! - Where was Harper??
update*
International fallout?!?
Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf cancels after learning that
prime minister would not be there to officially greet her. It’s appalling that Harper would not greet
sub-Saharan region!
More no-shows:
-On Tuesday, International Co-operation Minister Josee Verner cancelled
-On Monday, Health Minister Tony Clement postponed a scheduled news conference, but no new date or time was given.
There is a real lack of leadership and poor political judgment by Harper and his government.
It's not a good message to the internatioanl community that the Canadian PM, Stephen Harper, did not feel the need to attend the opening of the 2006 international AIDS conference.
Scott Brison, a Nova Scotia MP, said Harper's decision not to attend the conference sends a clear message to Canadians about the government's stance on HIV/AIDS.
"Stephen Harper's absence here tonight demonstrates a shocking lack of leadership and an appalling lack of compassion," Brison said.
Even actor Richard Gere took shots at Harper for being a no-show.the article
posted by Sarah Wong at 1:36 PM
7 Comments:
Jean Chretien didn't attend either, when he was PM.
And that was wrong too...what's your point?
The point is that both Liberal and Conservative PM's agree that wasting time on photo ops with rich and famous people do very little for the advancement of AIDS research....kinda like signing an Accord in Koyoto when all of us knew that the percentage's would and could never be reached...Photo Op. Chretien knew it and so does Harper. So whats your point???
billg, since you obviously have no idea of what progress is made at these events, it's hardly worth discussing with you.
By your logic, why did he send anyone at all?
Illustrating that Canada is committed to the cause, by giving an hour of your time, isn't a lot to ask. Is it a symbolic gesture, yes, but a meaningful one.
No worries though, bit by bit, day by day, the country is getting the true measure of this man and he won't have to worry about making many such decisions in the future.
I am sorry if you think that the gathering of minds, leaders, and public awareness is just merely a photo op.
It is sad that you feel that Harper shouldn't have gone to the convention. People around the world felt it was important, it's a shame that our PM didn't.
AIDS is a very serious issue. It's an international issue that needs to be spoken about and leaders need to meet about.
If the Canadian PM can't even take the time to attend an international AIDS conferece being held in their own country....that speaks volumes to his commitment to international issues.
On a side note...Scott Brison not only attended the opening cermonies, but he also walked in the AIDS treck.
I cannot say that I'm a Brison supporter, (though I like him), but good on him for being there. I've been asking for the longest time, are any candidates going to be there? This is the first acknowledgement I've received.
Good to hear someone was there.
I am pretty sure that Scott was the only candidate that did the actual AIDS walk.
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