Stay Informed

Sign up for news & alerts

Already signed up?
Login here

take action
For every $1 states spend dollar sign on substance misuse and addiction, 94 cents go to shovel up the consequences instead of for treatment and prevention. TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS

What Can I Do?



Continuing Education
Free online courses for addiction counselors LEARN ONLINE

Get Help
Need alcohol or drug help for yourself or someone else? GET HELP

 
Canadian Supreme Court Set to Rule on Tobacco Lawsuits
September 26, 2005

Share Share Email
Email
Print
Print
SubscribeSubscribe
News Summary

Canada's Supreme Court is poised to issue a ruling on whether provincial governments can sue tobacco companies in an attempt to recoup the costs of treating smoking-related illnesses, Reuters reported Sept. 23.

The court's decision is due this Thursday. Canadian provinces want to file cases similar to actions by U.S. states that ultimately led to the multibillion-dollar nationwide tobacco settlement in 1998. In May 2004, the British Columbia Court of Appeals ruled that the provinces had the right to file such suits; the Supreme Court of Canada heard an industry appeal of that ruling in June 2005.

Provincial governments spend more than C$500 million annually treating smoking-related diseases, officials said. Both leading Canadian and U.S. based cigarette companies are being targeted in the lawsuit.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

SUBMIT A COMMENT:

Note: Comments are now held for moderator approval. More info

Name:

Comment:
(limit 250
words)
Enter this word
(help):		 Change

GUIDELINES: 
Please keep comments on-topic, courteous, clean, non-commercial, and within the word limit.
Read the complete guidelines