A11

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

CHARLOTTETOWN - The P.E.I. government is taking the first steps toward potentially joining a class-action lawsuit against tobacco companies for past health-care costs related to tobacco use. The Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act was tabled yesterday in the P.E.I. Legislature. It allows the Island sue for recovery of costs incurred while treating citizens who suffer from tobacco-related illnesses, namely cancer.

A Supreme Court of Canada decision in 2005 allowing British Columbia to move forward with a lawsuit to recover billions in tobacco-related health-care costs paved the way for a class-action case to go forward. Since then five provinces have passed legislation allowing them to sign on to the suit, including Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec. Other provinces have introduced legislation that has not yet been proclaimed to also allow them to join.