On Tuesday, Opposition Politicians threw some nasty criticism at the Canadian Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq over the soaring tuberculosis rates among the aboriginals across the country, while demanding to know where the funds have been provided in the 2010-11 Federal Budget to fight the condition.

The attacks have come after a call for action was made by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which quoted federal numbers which revealed that TB among Inuit has managed to balloon since the year 2003. In 2008 alone, as many as 88 cases were reported, and the rate of TB among Inuit is now 186 times more as compared to that of Canadian-born non-aboriginals.

Dr. Carolyn Bennet, the Liberal health critic, revealed that she was "extraordinarily concerned and saw no sign of commitment to tackle TB in the latest budget", while highlighting the cuts of $70 Million and $49.3 Million to First Nations and Inuit Community programs, respectively.

Dr. Bennett stressed that the figures are an embarrassment to Canada.

The Health Minister, however, tried to turn all the criticism away by asserting that the Federal Government has "made significant investments" as far as the aboriginal health care goes.