Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am going to talk about tuberculosis or TB. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, residents of Tuktoyaktuk were tested for tuberculosis or TB after finding out a recent visitor had an active case of this disease. TB is a bacterial infection that typically affects the lungs. It is also a shameful part of Canada's colonial history. From 1950 to 1969, it is estimated one third of Inuit in Canada contracted TB, a disease brought north by settlers. During those years, thousands of people were taken south for medical treatment and many were never able to return to their homes. Today Canada has one of the lowest overall TB rates in the world, but Mr. Speaker, some regions and peoples are still hit much harder than that. First Nations, Metis, and Inuit are the most likely to have current TB diagnosis: 19 per cent of reported cases in four per cent of the country's population. In that group Inuit would have the highest rate of 154.2 per 100,000 population. Let's put that into perspective, Mr. Speaker. The rate for non-Aboriginal Canadians is 0.6 per cent per 100,000.
Last year, researchers traced a strain of tuberculosis common in the Canadian North right back to its arrival in 1919. These researchers also found that this strain was not any stronger than others, despite the prevalence of TB in the North. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that TB's impacts are magnified by Northerners’ limited access to affordable healthy food, regular health care, and housing without overcrowding. Thanks to the quick work of health officials, the risk of additional infections in Tuktoyaktuk as a result of the recent incident is very low and all potentially affected residents have been notified. However, we must still be vigilant to address the root cause of Northerners' heightened vulnerability to tuberculosis. This incident is a reminder. Later on, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.
