Jump to full article: Canada Newswire (CNW) (ca), 2009-11-03
Author: 6TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TOBACCO OR HEALTH / CANADIAN COUNCIL FOR TOBACCO CONTROL
Intro: Across Canada, provinces are taking steps to hold the tobacco industry accountable for decades of destructive behaviour through health care cost-recovery lawsuits. Eight provinces have already passed legislation permitting legal action, and of those British Columbia, New Brunswick and Ontario have filed suits with Quebec indicating it is also prepared to join them.
While compensation for health costs incurred by governments and taxpayers is a factor behind these suits, delegates at the 6th Annual National Conference on Tobacco or Health are learning that this is about much more than just money.
"It is about far more than dollars and cents," said Michael Perley, executive director, Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco. According to Perley and other public health advocates, there are four pillars to cost-recovery lawsuits, including:
Justice: holding the tobacco industry accountable for decades of unethical and destructive behaviour;
Truth: revealing tobacco industry documents previously sealed and bringing light to countless lies and deceptive tactics;
Health: admitting the true risks of tobacco products and changing industry behaviour;
Compensation: recovering costs previously borne by government and taxpayers.
Jump to full article » |