Northerners in Inuit Nunangat want program changes, not just more federal money.

The federal government announced $229 million for tuberculosis, food security and child supports in Inuit Nunangat, including a one-year, $115 million renewal of the Inuit Child First Initiative; northern leaders and service providers say they want longer-term program changes rather than temporary funding.

Ottawa announced new funding for health, food security and child and family supports in Inuit Nunangat, but many northerners say the measures are short-term and leave key decisions unresolved. Indigenous Services Canada minister Mandy Gull‑Masty revealed $229 million, including a one-year $115 million renewal of the Inuit Child First Initiative. Inuit leaders and regional groups have been working with the federal government on a longer-term, Inuit-specific framework for child supports, and some say this latest funding is a stopgap. Several Inuit organizations did not provide comment for the report. Key facts: - The federal announcement included $229 million for tuberculosis, food security and child and family support, with $115 million renewing the Inuit Child First Initiative for one year. - The Inuit Child First Initiative was first set up in 2018 and the recent renewal is described by officials as temporary while a longer-term framework is developed. - Indigenous Services Canada reported about 7,000 outstanding funding requests; federal figures show nearly 12,000 requests under the initiative in 2024 worth about $167 million, with nearly two-thirds of applications from the North. - The package also includes $30 million for the Nutrition North Canada subsidy and $27 million over five years for community-led tuberculosis efforts; federal contributions to tuberculosis work previously totalled about $44 million. - Public Health Agency of Canada data reported the rate of tuberculosis among Inuit in Inuit Nunangat in 2023 was over 37 times that of the overall Canadian population, and Nunavik recorded a record high number of cases in 2025. - Service providers in Nunavut say program changes, such as ending hamlet-wide food vouchers and requiring individual applications, have made access harder, with many families now seeing short approvals or denials. Summary: Northern leaders and service organizations welcomed additional funding but emphasized the need for durable program designs rather than repeated one-year extensions. Minister Gull‑Masty said changes to reduce barriers will be announced in the coming weeks while discussions continue on a longer-term Inuit-specific child support framework. Undetermined at this time.