And then there are many different sides with something to say, and try ....: makes me wanna smoke more


Canada - AFP


Canadian province can sue tobacco
firms: court

2 hours, 4 minutes ago


VANCOUVER, Canada (AFP) - The top court in Canada's westernmost
province ruled that its government can sue tobacco companies for health
care costs, in what could become a precedent for other jurisdictions.

Earlier attempts by British Columbia's
government to sue tobacco manufacturers
were tossed out by the courts.

The decision Thursday by the Appeals
Division of the provincial Supreme Court,
however, overturned a lower court ruling that
laws backing the legal challenge exceeded
the province's powers, because companies
could be sued for damages that may have occurred outside British
Columbia.

The new ruling opens the door for the province to sue tobacco
manufacturers to recover health care costs.

Disease related to tobacco is estimated to cost the province's public
health system about 500 million dollars (360 million US) annually.

"Every year, the biggest single cost to our health care system is as a
result of tobacco-related illnesses," said Joy MacPhail, an opposition
politician whose New Democratic Party was in government when the
Tobacco Damage and Health Care Costs Recovery Act was passed four
years ago.

Jurisdictions in the United States have already sued tobacco companies,
but British Columbia's law is being closely monitored in Canada and
elsewhere.

"Other governments are probably watching this with interest. In that
sense it sets a precedent," said David Laundy, a spokesman for the
Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers' Council.

Laundy said manufacturers will seek to appeal the ruling to the Supreme
Court of Canada, the nation's highest court.

He argued that it was hypocritical for governments to sue manufacturers
because tobacco is highly regulated in Canada, said Laundy.

The council estimates that governments collect eight billion dollars (six
billion US) annually in tobacco taxes.

"The legislation also sets a dangerous precedent for the Canadian
justice system," said Laundy.