BY HEATHER CAMPBELL
Stephen Lewis, the former Ontario politician and Canadian ambassador, is never lost for words. But he admitted he left his notes on the plane to Sudbury Sunday.
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Former Canadian ambassador to the UN, Stephen Lewis spoke in Sudbury Sunday evening. |
That did not stop the passionate Lewis who is the Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, since 2001. He spoke to about 400 people at the Caruso Club at the invitation of the Social Planning Council and the Sudbury and District Labour Council.
Lewis is an outspoken critic of how rich developed nations have ignored the AIDS crisis in Africa.
His speech entitled, Winds of Change, focused on the impact of ?econometric gobbled-gook? that holds the most vulnerable people, AIDS orphans in Africa, hostage to structural adjustment programs that pay no attention to the social aspects affecting their existence.
He told stories about children who have been made orphans by AIDS, the grandmothers who have lost their children and who are now trying to care for grandchildren, and the politicians trying to make a difference.
Lewis, the former leader of the Ontario New Democrat Party, and the son of David Lewis, former head of the federal NDP, was very clear from the outset what his politics are.
?I love to use the word socialist...As a matter of fact we are so close to North Bay, my knees are palpating?the Harris Tories, do you see what you are doing to me, I had no intention of taking a political position," he joked.
?I should make the comment the Harris government dismantled much of Ontario, which is simply an objective description.?
He does not agree with former PC policies in Ontario. Dismantling of many social programs was in reaction to international policies that appease the international financial community and the American administration which favours economic outcomes rather then social impacts and often created a punitive environment, he said.
Lewis referred to Canada?s current economic surplus of $9 billion. Canada, the only G8 country with a budget surplus, cannot deal with child poverty, housing, or aboriginal issues.
Lewis told the audience to get tough with federal politicians going into the next election.
"At all-candidates' meetings ?you can exacerbate all kinds of activities, I?ve seen candidates simply fall apart from tough audience questions, it?s delicious.?
Lewis was recently featured as part of the Massey Lectures on CBC Radio with his book, Race Against Time. He signed copies at the Caruso Club.
Between 1995 and 1999, Lewis was deputy executive director for UNICEF. From 1984 through 1988, he was Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Lewis was an elected representative to the Ontario Legislature, and served as leader of the New Democratic Party.
Lewis also holds 20 honorary degrees. Maclean's chose him as its inaugural Canadian of the Year in 2003 and in 2005 TIME named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Lewis is also the recipient of The Pearson Peace Medal for his outstanding achievements in the field of international service and understanding.
