XVI International AIDS Conference, 2006

, just outside the conference centre. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who decided not to attend the conference, was criticized by Conference co-chairman Dr. Mark Wainberg in his speech, saying, "We are dismayed that the prime minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, is not here this evening...The role of prime minister includes the responsibility to show leadership on the world stage. Your absence sends the message that you do not consider HIV/AIDS as a critical priority, and clearly all of us here disagree with you". Canadian Minister of Health Tony Clement attended in Harper's place.Harper's absence from the conference is the second time the Canadian head of government has decided not to attend the conference. In 1996, former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien did not attend the conference.[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060623/aids_harper_060623?s_name=&no_ads= ==Asylum seekers controversy==

A second controversy, that followed Stephen Harper's choice to not attend, was that 151 delegates who were in attendance refused to return to their home countries – instead opting to seek asylum in Canada. This development seriously hurt the credibility of the conference and many suggested that the Prime Minister's office may have been justified in its decision to not have Harper in attendance. ==See also==