Today is March 25 1993.  In 6 days, Canadian PLWAs and HIV+ people will
see their government's funding commitment to them dry up.  The current
round of federal AIDS funding is due to run out at the end of March.

Federal Health Minister Benoit Bouchard has announced a series of "bridge
loans" designed ostensibly to "tide over" AIDS organizations across
Canada.  Most organizations estimate these funds will run out before the
end of the summer.  Canada goes to federal elections this fall; it is
widely and bitterly acknowledged that the ruling Progressive Conservative
party is using these bridge loans in an effort to stall a contentious
issue until after the elections.

While the next round of funding will be for ten years instead of five or
three as was feared, it will *NOT* be a renewal of funds; rather, it is a
new set of funding.  This means that AIDS organizations and researchers
must REAPPLY for federal grants.  This could take up to 2 years to be
approved from the point at which the government declares funding to
start...meanwhile, Canadian PLWAs and HIV+ people are dying while the
governmet stalls.  No-one can make concrete plans as funding is no longer
guaranteed.  The buerocracy of the system is daunting and it is believed
that the government is hoping that some of the slower-to-move
organizations will miss the cutoff dates.

Despite massive protest and outcry from the Canadian public both queer and
straight, Bouchard has refused to hear any discussion on the matter.  AIDS
organizations, lobbyists and researchers are now in "protest" mode; we are
no longer hoping to change Bouchard's mind, only hoping to condemn this
cruel and incompassionate move on the part of the Federal Government.

The Federation of Students at the University of Waterloo will be mounting
a memorial/protest display in the Great Hall of the Campus Centre from
Monday through Wednesday, the last three days of March.  Community members
and concerned individuals in the Kitchener-Waterloo area of Ontario,
Canada are encouraged to drop by and add their voices to the protest.


Chris Chin
Co-Chair, Social Issues Board
Federation of Students / University of Waterloo


	______
Chris Chin   /	love + pride + strength + unity = freedom
Pupil Smurf /	S5/8 b? g+ l y/ z(+) n++ o-/+ x(+) a u v+ j+/++
	  \/	hcchin@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca