The Retort

Canada Versus Big Tobacco

October 23rd, 2009 by Mike Schrage Of The Retort Staff

According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the city of Ottawa is moving closer to filing a 30-50 billion dollar lawsuit against 14 major tobacco corporations, namely Imperial Tobacco, Canada’s largest tobacco manufacturer and distributor. Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc says of the lawsuit: “I think we have the right to claim money from them… in the past they have caused harm to the population [and] the goal is to seek money for the problems we have had.”

Under the umbrella of the Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act passed by Canada’s Supreme Court in 2008, British Colombia was allowed to sue major tobacco corporations for the financial strain side effects of smoking has placed on Canada’s general health care system. Currently motions to bring the case to trial are underway, and if BC finds legal success, it is not unreasonable to imagine other Canadian provinces will follow shortly. A spokesman for Imperial Tobacco calls the lawsuit “hypocritical”, since the Canadian government does not attempt to regulate other industries that may be harmful to private citizens, such as alcohol and gambling.