Inuit leaders, MPs urge action on TB elimination as federal budget nears – CBC

Mar 18, 2024

TB rate among Inuit 676 times higher than among non-Indigenous, Canadian-born people

With the federal budget approaching, Inuit leaders and New Democrat MPs are urging the Trudeau government to tackle tuberculosis in Indigenous communities.

Inuit in particular face a “staggering and unacceptable reality” of tuberculosis rates more than 300 times higher than Canadian-born non-Indigenous people, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) said in a pre-budget submission.

With the clock ticking on a Liberal pledge to eliminate the disease in Inuit regions by 2030, the national advocacy organization for Inuit in Canada is seeking $131.6 million over seven years — and a show of commitment — from next month’s budget.

“We remain steadfast in our hope that the government of Canada still stands with us on its pledge to eliminate TB and it needs to spend money to do that,” said ITK President Natan Obed.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/inuit-mps-tuberculosis-elimination-budget-1.7145363