Mr. Speaker, qujannamiik uqaqti.
Key social determinants of health, such as housing, education, infrastructure, health services, and food security, play a significant role in the well-being and quality of life of Canadians. Unfortunately, access to these factors is not the same across Canada, and anyone who has been to my riding has seen this first-hand.
The WHO has stated that social determinants of health are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources. I have stressed several times in this House that the per capita system fails the Government of Nunavut and Nunavummiut.
While I was touring my riding, many Inuit told me that they feel forgotten. They believe new Canadians get treated better than they do.
It is time to change the per capita system to more of a needs-based approach. It is time to address these inequities and work to ensure that Inuit can enjoy the same quality of life as other Canadians.
Nunavummiut are hopeful that the language used thus far has not been just talk.