Canada first to pass law to send cheap AIDS drugs to poor countries

OTTAWA (AFP) - Canada became the first rich nation to pass pioneering legislation designed to funnel cheap generic drugs to sufferers of HIV (news - web sites)/AIDS (news - web sites) and other killer diseases in the developing world.


The Senate upper house of parliament endorsed a bill already cleared by the House of Commons, as it forced through a backlog of legislation before a general election expected late next month.


Parliament acted a day after Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin sat down in a voter-friendly meeting with Irish rocker Bono, who crusades to get generic drugs to Africa, where the HIV/AIDS pandemic is scything through populations.


The U2 frontman, referring to a World Trade Organisation agreement, said: "Everybody agreed to do that back in August. But Canada is the first to act."

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1508&e=17&u=/afp/canada_wto_aids

advocate and seems to have devoted his life to this cause....

This is compassion at its best.

Compassion is deeds, not words. Not some asshole going around saying that he's a "compassionate conservative" (and where the fuck IS the $15 billion you promised to fight AIDS in Africa, Mr. Bush???)

I'd nominate Canada itself for the Nobel Peace Prize next year if I could.

Terry

if it wasn't just another cheap election ploy by a corrupt scumbag Liberal government...It's a good thing, though - the AIDS crisis in Africa is being described as the "Holocaust of the 21rst Century." Those in the western world are mostly just watching the trains get loaded....

and Canada will fulfill it's promise. Many promises are made during an election cycle on all sides, the key is to hold the victor to them after. I have no doubt that the faux Conservative party would strike this from their agenda if they were ever to win, which, thank goodness, isn't even a possibility.

The Liberal government is NOT a "corrupt scumbag government."....I have faith in the integrity of Paul Martin and say...give him a chance.....And I am proud of the fact that he kept his word to Bono which we saw him make a few months ago....That was not a "cheap election ploy!"...No offence, but you rubbed me the wrong way!
Also this Liberal government kept us out of the Iraq mess even at the risk of angering Bush and his buddies....

I do believe Martin feels this is something important, and even if politicians did things like this to look good... Well I just wish more politicians would do it then.

Hope I don't have to eat my words....:)

Just as long as the NDP is there to hold his feet to the fire...

:evilgrin:

and will be watching carefully after the election. I can't decide if he is really "right of center" as some say or whether he is simply speaking right of center to garner votes. The proof of the pudding will be after he wins, and I believe he will, which way he really thinks.

influenced by his late father, who was very socially conscious....One time when he mentioned it he had tears in his eyes...This is one of the things I'm going on....but as you say, time will tell. :)

I've met him briefly, twice.

of the PR value. Sometimes doing a good thing, and getting some good press, is still doing a good thing.

Sid