Question Period Note: Support to Nunavut

• The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated have the resources needed to continue responding to challenges presented by COVID-19.

• To support Nunavut throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, ISC has provided funding, personal protective equipment, health human resources, and rapid antigen tests.

N /A

If pressed on Out of Territory Elder Long-term Care
• The Government of Canada values Indigenous elders and the knowledge they hold to bring about positive change to Indigenous health and wellness.

• The Government of Nunavut has jurisdiction over healthcare, including long-term and continuing care.

• ISC is working closely with Nunavut to provide the required assistance to address the health needs of Nunavummiut.

• ISC will be working with Nunavut partners to co-develop a distinctions-based Indigenous Long-term and Continuing Care Framework to ensure residents can receive services closer to home.

If pressed on support to the territory
• To date, Indigenous Services Canada has provided Nunavut with $238.4M in health support funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• This includes funding to address increased health system pressures and to support Inuit communities directly.
• The Government of Canada will continue to support the Territory and its partners to provide assistance as required.

If pressed on mental wellness needs in Nunavut
• We are working in close partnership with the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated to respond to the mental wellness needs of Inuit in the territory.

• Through this partnership, we are contributing $240M over 10 years through the Nunavut Wellness Agreement for community wellness initiatives.

• Through ISC’s contribution agreement with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, $13.2M is provided to Inuit communities and organizations to support mental wellness initiatives.

If pressed on COVID-19 Cases and Vaccines in Nunavut
• The Government of Nunavut is no longer reporting COVID-19 case or vaccination data publicly.
• The COVID-19 vaccination rollout for first, second, third, and fourth doses, as well as the pediatric vaccine, continues throughout the territory. Nunavummiut can access the COVID-19 vaccine through community health centres and public health units.
If pressed on health services in the North
• We are working with territorial and Indigenous partners to advance the health and safety of First Nations and Inuit in the North.
• While territorial governments are responsible for the delivery of health care in the territories, we work in partnership to ensure First Nations and Inuit communities have access to culturally safe supports and services, including on the land activities.
• In 2021-22, $46.6M was allocated to support mental health programming and services in all 72 First Nations and Inuit communities in the three territories.
If Pressed on health services in the North during COVID-19
• The government continues to support Indigenous communities to implement culturally relevant emergency measures to promote on the land physical distancing.
• Last year, Canada invested more than $117M in mental health and wellness supports related to the COVID-19 pandemic, of which $10.6M of this funding was allocated across the three territories.
• In response to COVID-19, a pan-territorial Indigenous working group is in place and will continue to work with Indigenous partners to help them protect their health and safety during this pandemic.
Medical Transportation in Nunavut
• The Government of Nunavut has advised Canada that it can no longer afford to cover the cost of medical travel for Inuit residents accessing insured services.

• This year, in recognition of these costs, the Government of Canada is providing Nunavut with $58M of interim funding for health care delivery, including medical transportation.

• The Government of Canada is also engaging with the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated on a longer-term solution to address medical travel costs.
If pressed on federal funding for medical travel in Nunavut
• The Government of Canada supports Nunavut’s medical travel costs through several programs, including:

o $58M in funding to support health delivery cost pressures in 2022-23;
o $715 for every one-way medical travel flight for eligible Inuit and First Nations clients of the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program; and
o $13.5M in 2022-23 through the Territorial Health Investment Fund.

If pressed on Tuberculosis in Inuit Nunangat

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