B.C. Government launches lawsuit against North America's major tobacco companies

Vancouver, B.C. - 12 November 1998

Emulating state governments in the U.S.A., the NDP Provincial Government today filed a precedent setting Canadian lawsuit hoping to "recover hundreds of millions of dollars in health-care costs". It has previously been stated that many of this Government's key claims will be similar to those in the U.S.A. The tobacco companies have said they will vigorously fight this court action - no out of court settlements that this Government has been wishing for.

The Liberal Opposition has criticised this move on the part of the Government as being hypocritical. When you're raking in $500 million a year in taxation on a product, how do you turn around and sue the manufacturers - and still retain even a suggestion of integrity?

****

At last! Some 'official opposition' to the disgusting spectacle created by anti-smoking zealots. It can only be hoped that other industries understand the ramification of this type of lawsuit. Alcohol, 'junk food', automobiles .... nobody's safe once Government starts filling its coffers with the help of the Health Nazis.