Canada’s proposed $32.5 billion settlement with major tobacco companies could close out a decades-long lawsuit but leaves out measures that would limit future tobacco sales, critics say.
Michelle Gamage reports for The Tyee.
In short:
- The settlement would award $24.7 billion to provinces, $4.1 billion to Quebec class-action plaintiffs, and smaller portions to plaintiffs outside Quebec, though these payouts represent just 6.5% of the original $500 billion claim.
- The agreement lacks requirements to limit tobacco marketing or invest in prevention, and critics argue it effectively incentivizes future tobacco sales, as companies will pay settlements from future profits.
- Compensation for smokers is included but is only available to those who smoked heavily between 1950 and 1998 and suffered specific tobacco-related illnesses.
Key quote:
“The settlement basically sells Canadian kids down the river because it allows tobacco companies to continue with business as usual. That means targeting kids, deceiving the public, continuing with its campaign of deception it’s carried on for decades and trying to unduly influence governments and public policy.”
— Les Hagen, executive director of Action on Smoking and Health Canada
Why this matters:
The settlement might financially aid health services but does not address the ongoing public health risks posed by tobacco. Critics argue this approach may conflict with Canada’s goal to reduce tobacco use to under 5% by 2035.
