OTTAWA - Rates of tuberculosis have skyrocketed among Inuit and First Nations communities in Canada, and they want the federal government to act.

The rate of tuberculosis among Inuit is 185 times higher than Canadian-born non-aboriginals, having doubled in the past four years.

The rate of tuberculosis among First Nations is 31 times higher than non-Aboriginal Canadians.

"It is unconscionable that these conditions exist in a country that boasts of having one of the lowest TB rates in the world," said Gail Turner, chair of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami's health committee. "In Nunatsiavut, where I live, Inuit must fly to Goose Bay to receive a chest x-ray. Recently, that meant a group of patients was stranded for 15 days because of weather."

In addition to poor access to health care, other causes for the higher TB rates - according to Turner and Chief Angus Toulouse, the Assembly of First Nations' health spokesman - is overcrowded housing and poor nutrition.

In 2008, there were 342 cases of tuberculosis among all of Canada's Aboriginal population, whereas there were 210 cases of TB reported among Canadian-born non-Aboriginals.

Judy Wasylycia-Leis, the NDP's health critic, said the numbers in Wednesday's report were, "shocking statistics that demand urgent action."

In particular, Wasylycia-Leis called on the federal government Wednesday to put in place a "comprehensive plan of action."

Wasylycia-Leis said currently governments spend $47,000 per tuberculosis case for non-aboriginals, and only $17,000 per tuberculosis case for natives.