Canada Allocates $27 Million to Combat TB in Inuit Communities

The Canadian federal government has committed $27 million over the next five years to combat tuberculosis (TB) in Inuit communities, addressing a significant health crisis marked by a record number of active cases in Nunavik. The announcement was made by Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty during a quarterly meeting of the Kativik Regional Government in Kuujjuaq on Thursday afternoon.

“This disease disproportionately impacts Inuit communities in Nunavik and across Inuit Nunangat, and this must change,” Gull-Masty stated. Her comments come in response to alarming statistics, as Nunavik reported 117 active cases of TB in 2025—the highest number recorded since the regional health board began tracking the disease. As of February 19, 2025, there are currently 15 active cases across eight communities, although the health board has not disclosed the names of those communities due to privacy concerns.

The newly announced funding is aimed at enhancing TB prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment initiatives. This effort will be conducted in collaboration with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), which serves as the national organization representing Inuit in Canada, alongside Inuit treaty organizations. Gull-Masty emphasized the importance of addressing housing issues as part of the broader strategy to combat TB, noting that “a large part of fighting tuberculosis is ensuring that you are healthy, that you have access to nutrition, but a huge component of it also has to do with housing.”

Dr. Yassen Tcholakov, the clinical lead on infectious diseases for the Nunavik health board, has pointed out that overcrowded housing conditions significantly contribute to the region’s TB crisis. Due to the airborne nature of the disease, individuals living in crowded settings face a heightened risk of both contracting and spreading TB.

In 2018, ITK and the federal government pledged to eliminate tuberculosis in Inuit Nunangat by 2030. This commitment included a target to reduce active TB cases by 50 percent by 2025, a goal that was not met. Gull-Masty expressed her intention to work closely with ITK to ensure that the community remains on track towards achieving the 2030 elimination target.

As the federal government takes these steps to address the TB crisis, the focus on collaborative efforts and comprehensive strategies underscores the urgent need for improved health outcomes in Inuit communities. The successful implementation of these initiatives will be critical to reversing the troubling trend of tuberculosis in the region, ultimately aiming to ensure healthier living conditions and better health resources for Inuit populations.