Question Period Note: Tuberculosis

• We are committed to addressing tuberculosis among First
Nations and Inuit populations.
• We are working with Indigenous partners and provincial and
territorial governments to support innovative approaches and
specific actions.
• We continue to work with our Indigenous partners to address
rates of tuberculosis in a distinctions-based and culturally-safe
way.

In the North, primary health care, including tuberculosis control, is the responsibility of the
territorial governments. Indigenous Services Canada supplements and supports territorial health
programs for First Nations and Inuit, as it does in the provinces, in order to ensure access to
health services, and to achieve a standard of health for First Nations and Inuit which is
comparable to that of other Canadians.
Tuberculosis transmission and outcomes are highly influenced by social and economic factors
including poverty, housing, nutrition, tobacco use, education, and access to culturally safe
health care. A comprehensive response to high tuberculosis rates requires significant
investments in programs that address specific social determinants.
Budget 2018 announced $27.5 million over five years to support Inuit-specific approaches to
tuberculosis elimination. This is in addition to the $640 million over 10 years announced in
Budget 2017 and 2018 to address Inuit Nunangat housing needs.
Budget 2023 announced an additional $16.2 million over three years to support the elimination
of tuberculosis across Inuit Nunangat.
LEAD TITLE 2022-
23
2023-
24
2024-
25
2025-
26
2026-
27
2027-
28
6-YR
TOTAL
New Announcements
FNIHB Tuberculosis $5.4M $5.4M $5.4M $16.2m
Inuit partners have indicated that funding allocated via Budget 2023 is insufficient to eliminate
tuberculosis by 2030. Budget 2023 fell short of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami's request for funds to
support tuberculosis elimination in a pre-budget submission.
On November 21, 2022, the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
signed a tuberculosis information sharing agreement that will advance both organizations’
commitment to the elimination of tuberculosis in Nunavut.
Current Tuberculosis Situation
Currently, there are three communities with declared tuberculosis outbreaks in Nunavut:
Pangnirtung (November 2021), Naujaat (May 2023), and Pond Inlet (March 2023).
The Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, along with support from
federal partners, such as the Public Health Agency of Canada and Indigenous Services
Canada, have implemented a community-wide tuberculosis screening clinic in Pangnirtung,
which is currently underway and slated to be completed by December 3, 2023.
On January 31, 2023, the Public Health Agency of Canada received a Request for Assistance
from the Government of Nunavut regarding support for the community wide tuberculosis
screening program.
In early May 2023, Nunavut’s Chief Public Health Officer met with ISC (Dr. Wong) and PHAC
(Dr. Tam) and then sent an official request for assistance to FNIHB and the provinces. The
7
OFMAR requested nurses to support community screening in Pangnirtung in the fall of 2023.
The Public Health Surge Team recruited from its team, as well as regional colleagues, to
mobilize nurses and other health staff to Pangnirtung.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada is currently helping to manage tuberculosis
outbreaks in Pangnirtung, Pond Inlet and Naujaat by supporting deployed field
epidemiologists.
• Indigenous Services Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada are also working
closely with the Government of Nunavut to continue to support the epidemiological
mobilization plan in order to support the community wide screening currently underway
in Pangnirtung.
• The National Microbiology Laboratory provides testing support for northern, remote, and
isolated communities, including reference and diagnostic services. This initiative builds
capacity for community-based testing and prioritizes distribution of point-of-care
diagnostic testing supplies to these communities.
ISC continues to participate in discussions with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the
Government of Nunavut through the Nunavut Partnership Table on Health to address ongoing
challenges and work towards implementing strategies and initiatives to eliminate tuberculosis in
Nunavut.
An outbreak of tuberculosis was declared in Pond Inlet, a hamlet of 1,500 people, on March 18,
2023. As of June 16, 2023, in Pond Inlet, there are nine cases of tuberculosis disease and 25
cases of tuberculosis infection. The Government of Nunavut states that the growing number of
cases suggests that an enhanced public health response may be required.
An outbreak was declared in Naujaat on May 16, 2023. At that time there were six cases of
tuberculosis disease, and 10 cases of tuberculosis infection.

If pressed on Tuberculosis in Inuit Nunangat

Our Government is working with partners to eliminate
tuberculosis across Inuit Nunangat by 2030 and beyond, and
reduce active tuberculosis by at least 50% by 2025, in
comparison to 2016 rates.
• Budget 2018 announced $27.5M over five years to support Inuitspecific
approaches to tuberculosis elimination, in addition to
the $640M over 10 years announced in Budget 2017 and 2018 to
address Inuit Nunangat housing needs.
• In Budget 2023, we committed an additional $16.2M over three
years to support Inuit partners in the elimination of tuberculosis
in Inuit Nunangat.
• We will continue to support innovative and community led
approaches that address factors contributing towards
tuberculosis.

If pressed on Tuberculosis Cases in Pangnirtung
• Starting in September, 2023, a community-wide screening clinic
is underway in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. Indigenous Services
Canada’s Public Health Surge Team mobilized the community to
support a request for nurses and health staff. The clinic will run
through to early December 2023.
• Indigenous Services Canada continues to collaborate with
partners and the Public Health Agency of Canada to support
communities in response to outbreaks.

If pressed on Tuberculosis Cases in Pond Inlet and Naujaat
• Indigenous Services Canada continues to collaborate with the
Government of Nunavut, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and
the Public Health Agency of Canada to support Pond Inlet and
Naujaat in response to outbreaks.