Iqaluit (June 02/03) - You're more likely to find stacks of new federal government health forms in the trash than on shelves in Nunavut health centres.

The non-insured health benefit (NIHB) consent forms are scheduled to go into effect on September 2.

But, not if the Nunavut government and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami have something to say about it.

Both organizations have concerns with the new forms, including invasion of privacy, downloading of federal government costs, barriers to health care and the fact the documents are not available in Inuktitut.

Stephen Hendrie, ITK communications director, said there is an inequity between the information the forms ask Inuit to disclose compared to other Canadians.

"The environment in the North is different, it is easier to put two and two together about who the information is regarding," he said.

In March ITK asked Inuit not to sign the forms until they could negotiate with the government.

"We're looking for the form to be properly translated, we're looking for consultation and we're looking for Inuit approval of the form," said Hendrie. Despite ITK's discontent, the forms were sent out for distribution, but the Nunavut Government has asked their health centres not to put them on display.

"It appears that Canada is continuing to avoid its responsibilities to aboriginal Canadians, creating new barriers to prompt delivery of medical services in Nunavut," Ed Picco, minister of health, said in a press release.

Those barriers could be severe, added Crawford.

After September 2, if the forms have not been completed the federal government will not pay health-care costs.

The federal government has stated they want the forms to be filled out freely, but Crawford said they are strong arming it and are not giving Nunavummiut a choice but to sign.

"They're saying if you never sign this form your child won't get life saving drugs. This is not free consent, it's gun to the head consent," she said.

The health department is exploring an number of options to creating a more sensible consent form, including going to the privacy commissioner.

"I don't think it will have much of an impact. They are pretty set on this they've spent $6 million on it," said Crawford.