After nearly three decades of legal battles with tobacco companies, a resolution has been reached which has garnered Canada a settlement of $32.5 billion.
Canada was facing Benson & Hedges, JTI-Macdonald Corp., Rothmans and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. in the lawsuit that went as far as the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
BC will receive around $3.7 billion of that sum, which will be dispersed to the Province over 18 years.
According to the BC government, the money will be used to invest in cancer treatment, primary care, the expansion of treatment research and to promote squitting smoking.
Following the settlement decision, Premier David Eby issued a statement about the resolution.
“After a 28-year fight to hold multinational tobacco companies accountable for their deceptive actions, I’m pleased a resolution has finally been reached,” said Eby.
“While no amount of money will ever bring lost loved ones back or fully compensate for the harm done, this agreement ensures there are real consequences for corporate wrongdoing and will provide essential resources for public-health initiatives in BC.”
This resolution marks the largest tobacco settlement in Canadian history, as well as the third-largest around the world.
