Question Period Note: Tuberculosis in Nunavut

• We are committed to addressing tuberculosis among Indigenous populations.

• To do this, we are working with Indigenous partners and provincial and territorial governments in supporting innovative approaches and specific actions.

• We will 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.

In response to high tuberculosis rates, 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.

The Nunavut Tuberculosis Elimination Action Plan was developed by Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated in collaboration with the Government of Nunavut. It is pending endorsement by the Government of Nunavut.

Current Cluster of Tuberculosis Cases in Pangnirtung

There is currently a cluster of tuberculosis cases in Pangnirtung, Nunavut where there is only one nurse available.

In response to the Government of Nunavut’s Operational Framework for Mutual Aid Requests to the Public Health Agency of Canada for three nurses, Indigenous Services Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada have identified federal and provincial public health nurses who are being deployed by the end of March 2022.

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% by 2025.
• Budget 2018 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.
• We will continue to work to support innovative and community led approaches that address factors contributing towards tuberculosis.

If pressed on Tuberculosis Cases in Pangnirtung
• On November 25, 2021, the Government of Nunavut declared a tuberculosis outbreak in the community of Pangnirtung, Nunavut.
• Indigenous Services Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada have identified federal and provincial public health nurses, who will be deployed by the end of March, to provide the necessary supports and surge capacity.
• The Government of Canada continues to collaborate with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Territorial Government as they finalize the action plan to eliminate tuberculosis in Nunavut.