Honourable senators, this coming Sunday, March 24, marks World Tuberculosis Day.

Tuberculosis, or TB, is an airborne infectious disease which kills over 1 million people every year and spreads to millions more. While TB is one of the oldest diseases that still affects humanity, it is far from being a relic of a bygone era — it is still a terrible reality for millions, and remains the deadliest infectious disease. This is despite TB being both preventable and treatable.

Here, in Canada, TB disproportionately affects Indigenous peoples, particularly Inuit communities. With ongoing outbreaks in multiple northern communities, the rate of TB among Inuit is 280 times that of non-Indigenous people born in Canada.

The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada found that thousands of children were exposed to and ultimately died from TB during their time in residential schools. While we work toward reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, the truth that Indigenous peoples still suffer due to TB is a painful reminder of how far we have yet to go.

TB also affects many people in Canada’s large cities who are new arrivals to this country. These newcomers — who may have become infected with TB in higher-burden countries, and fall ill once they get to Canada — face many barriers to receiving timely TB care.

Ensuring continuity of health care services for new arrivals and timely testing of high-risk groups is imperative to addressing Canada’s TB outbreaks at the source. Addressing TB is a matter of upholding Canada’s commitments to health equity, and ensuring that everyone can enjoy their right to good health.

In 2015, Canada joined the rest of the world in a commitment to eliminate TB by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2024, we are just past the halfway point, and there remains much to be done.

The COVID-19 pandemic stalled progress at home and around the world. For the first time in decades, rates of TB rose globally. Here at home, rates remain stubbornly stuck, no longer decreasing, for nearly two decades.

With new health innovations to prevent, diagnose and cure TB, and with sustained activism and political attention, I believe that we can end TB.

As I conclude, I want to thank the grassroots advocates from Stop TB Canada, TBpeople Canada and Results Canada for their tireless efforts in raising awareness, and their work in building the political will to end TB. Thank you.