Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Members of the House. Today we recognize World AIDS Day. Mr. Speaker, we in the north are not immune to the scourges of AIDS. For a long time, we seemed to have enjoyed relative isolation from some of the social impacts that southerners face. The facts of this issue are frightening. In Canada, there are approximately 8,500 diagnosed cases of AIDS or HIV. In the Northwest Territories, officially, there are 25 reported cases.
Sadly, Mr. Speaker, for every case diagnosed, there are nine others that are not. If this figure were correct, there are approximately 250 people in the Northwest Territories with AIDS or HIV. Some researchers into AIDS Believe that this figure could be as high as 30 unknown infected people will, in turn have family and friends who are directly touched by this disease.
Mr. Speaker, this disease affects all of us. AIDS is no longer a disease that affects only gays and IV drug users. The greatest growth area for victims in the past few years of the AIDS epidemic has been in the heterosexual community. No one is immune from AIDS. We must stop believing that it is somebody else's problem, a southern disease, a white disease or a gay disease. This disease is everyone's problem, not in the distant future, but right now, here at home. AIDS is a completely preventable disease, however we know how it is spread. We know how it is not spread. AIDS is only preventable when we can accept our part of the responsibility for prevention.
Today, December 1, across the country, people with aids or HIV mark World AIDS Day, a day of hope that a cure may be soon be found. This morning red ribbons were given to all the members. I would like to ask the members of this House to wear these ribbons in support of the fight against AIDS.
Mr. Speaker, the theme of this year's World AIDS Day is "a moment in time." With the concurrence of the House, I would invite the Members to join me in a moment of silence for all the people in the Northwest Territories who are fighting or who have lost the fight against this twentieth-century plague.