12 - Sunday, May 8, 1994 - North Shore News RECENTLY SOME Reform Party members urged the federal gov. ernment to caucel a 1996 international AIDS canference in Vancouver because, among other things, it will bring at least 500 HIV-infected people into Canada, This, according to inmigration critic Art Hangat, poses a health and safety risk to Canadians. Local MPs ‘Ted White (North Vancouver) and Herb Grubel (Capilano- Howe Sound) agree. However, many people are appalled at the sup: gestion that delegates to the conference are going to come here and spread the AIDS virus. If anything, these particular visitors are probably the least likely to infect others because they are better informed about the illness than the average person. It's the people living here who don't know (hey are HEV positive who are the greater health risk — the people who, despite all the available infor- mation, continue to share needles or practise unsafe sex. Perhaps this conference — and its visitors — can encourage these Canadians to get an AIDS test, and help stop the spread of this deadly virus, Will the 1996 int’! AIDS conference pose a health risk to Canadians? dames Huber North Vancouver No, it won't, Sure it makes ine nervous, but not enough that I'd want to baa it or not allow HIV-infected people from entering the country to altend. [ll just avoid it, that’s all. (a hihi Dal Runnals North Vancouver No, [ don’t ses it as a health risk. I think people create their own health risks. There are probably more HIV- infected people here already than the number who will attend this conference, SURVEY TEAM THE NORTH Shore News survey teant telephoned 443 North and West Vancouver residents to find out whether you think the [996 international AIDS conference in Vancouver will pose a health and safety risk to Canadians. The following is a compete breakdown of survey results: Rupert Goumes Burnaby No, | don’t think so. don’t have a problem with letting visitors with AIDS into the country, Otherwise, where do you stop? Ivs AIDS now, cancer next, and tuberculosis after that, Horseshoe Bay Dundarave/Ambleside British Properties Norgate/Pemberton Heights Capilano/Delbrook Highlands Lower Lonsdale Central and Upper Lonsdale Lynn Valley Nahum Estrada North Vancouver Why would iv? [think peo- ple with AIDS must take special precautions, but they deserve the right to be here for the conference. | don’t think they are a health risk. NO 56% O1% 56% 62% 03% 15% 64%: ONG YES 31% 18% 36% 15% 25% [4% IS% 13% Donna 0’ Donnell: North Vancouver No, not at all, not even a lit- tle bit. Are our MPs not educated in how AIDS is contracted? You can’t catch it fram breathing the same air. NO DON’T OFINION KNOW 4% 0% 0% 15% 3% 3% oe 23% 2% 10% 3% 38% 9G o% 5% 18% Blucridge/Deep Cove 2396 66% 3% . 8% TOTAL on. csccssseecerreerssnetsstansenres 21.4% 60.7% 4.3% 13.6%