Question Period Note: Tuberculosis

We are committed to addressing tuberculosis among Indigenous
populations.
• We are working with Indigenous partners and provincial and
territorial governments in supporting 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.
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 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.
Budget 2023 announced an additional $16.2 million over three years to support the elimination
of tuberculosis.
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
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
On June 28, 2022, the Government of Nunavut identified a need for public health nurses to
support on tuberculosis. The Operational Framework for Mutual Aid Response process began
on June 29, 2022, and was distributed on July 4, 2022. The request was for support in two
communities; Kinngait, Nunavut (one Public Health Nurse) and Pangnirtung, Nunavut (two
Public Health Nurses) for the period of July 17 to August 30, 2022.
Alberta Health Services responded on July 7, 2022 that they could meet the request. On July 8,
2022, the Government of Nunavut accepted the offer from Alberta Health Services and the
Operational Framework for Mutual Aid Response was then deactivated. The Government of
Nunavut then followed up directly with Alberta Health Services, working with the identified health
human resource staff for their deployments. The Government of Nunavut is responsible for
ensuring licensing/capabilities, travel, salary, training, orientation, etc.
The public health nurses were deployed to the territory for the required timeframe.
Moreover, health centre staffing remains a challenge in Nunavut. The Kinngait health centre
was closed from August 9, 2022 until September 30, 2022 due to staff shortages. Paramedics
were available to respond to emergencies, and there were virtual care options available. The
Pangnirtung health centre was closed from August 1, 2022 to August 7, 2022, where
paramedics and virtual care was offered for emergency services.
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, the Government of Nunavut and the community of
Pangnirtung are planning to conduct a community wide tuberculosis screening, in fall 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. ISC is in contact with the Public Health Agency of Canada who are leading the initial
scoping discussion with the Government of Nunavut to discuss the details and timelines of the
federal support being requested.
On March 18, 2023, Nunavut's Department of Health announced that five active and 22 latent
cases of tuberculosis have been identified in Pond Inlet, a hamlet of 1,500 people, since
February 2023.

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 $27.5M 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.

If pressed on Tuberculosis Cases in Pangnirtung
• In June 2022, the Government of Nunavut requested public
health nurses to provide support to address tuberculosis in the
communities of Kinngait and Pangnirtung.
• Alberta Health Services were able to support the full request,
and public health nurses were in Nunavut until the end of
August 2022, providing health care support as needed.
• On January 31, 2023, the territorial government submitted a new
request for assistance for a potential community wide
tuberculosis screening program in fall 2023.
• Indigenous Services Canada continues to collaborate with
partners and the Public Health Agency of Canada to support
communities in response to outbreaks.