Question Period Note: Tuberculosis

We are committed to addressing tuberculosis among Indigenous populations.
This is why we are working with Indigenous partners and provincial and territorial governments to support innovative approaches and specific actions.
We will continue to work with Indigenous partners to address rates of tuberculosis in a distinctions-based, and culturally safe way.

The Public Health Agency of Canada reports that in 2016, the active tuberculosis rate among Inuit in Canada was the highest across all origin groups at 205.8 per 100,000 population; a 25.7% increase since 2016, and a rate that is over 400 times higher than the rate in the Canadian born non-Indigenous population and is over 40 times higher than for the general Canadian population. Indigenous Services Canada has taken multiple actions towards addressing high tuberculosis rates among Inuit. Recently, for example, the Minister of Indigenous Services led Canada’s delegation, which included Inuit partners, to the United Nations General Assembly first-ever high-level meeting on tuberculosis, on September 26, 2018, where she supported Inuit partners in highlighting the results of their important work towards a tuberculosis elimination framework.
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.
Finally, the Government of Canada recognizes that significant investments in programs that address specific social determinants of health are essential to further reduce the incidence and burden of diseases that are influenced by social and economic factors, including housing, nutrition, tobacco use, education, and access to culturally safe health care.
Budget 2019 announced $27.5 million over five years to support the Inuit-specific approach 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.

Inuit Nunangat

Our Government is working with partners to eliminate tuberculosis across Inuit Nunangat by 2030, and reduce active tuberculosis by at least 50% by 2025.
Budget 2019 announced $27.5 million over five years to support the Inuit-specific approach to tuberculosis elimination; in addition to the $640 million over 10 years announced in Budget 2017 and 2018 to address Inuit Nunangat housing needs.
We will continue to work with partners to support innovative and community led approaches to address the factors that contribute to tuberculosis.

If pressed on the PM’s apology

On March 8, 2019, the Prime Minister apologized to Inuit for the Government’s actions during the tuberculosis epidemic from the 1940s to the 1960s, when thousands of Inuit were sent away to southern Canada for treatment.
The pain and trauma this injustice caused for families and communities across Inuit Nunangat, and the intergenerational impacts continue to be felt today.
He also announced the launch of the Nanilavut Initiative, developed in partnership with Inuit, to support Inuit families and communities heal.

Nunavut Screening

In 2018, our Government supported the Nunavut government’s deployment of two mobile tuberculosis screening clinics in two communities.
In May 2019, a third clinic was completed in another community.
All three clinics had community participation rates of more than 80%.
Additionally, more than 40 health care providers from federal and provincial health systems bolstered the efforts of the Government of Nunavut’s team.
Our Government will continue to support these clinics and other initiatives to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis in First Nation Populations

Our Government is deeply concerned by the incidences of tuberculosis among First Nations.
We are promoting access to equitable, culturally appropriate and timely diagnosis, treatment, and care for First Nations communities.
We are also working to address specific social determinants of health, which are essential to the reduction of the incidence of tuberculosis, including housing, nutrition, and access to culturally safe health care.
We will continue to work with Indigenous partners to address rates of tuberculosis.