Ontario suing tobacco companies for $50B

Ontario is looking for $50 billion from a group of tobacco companies to recoup health-care costs linked to illnesses stemming from tobacco use.


Under the Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, which passed the provincial legislature this year, Ontario can file suits against companies seeking the recovery of tobacco-related damages.


The legislation impacts alleged damages from the past, as well as ongoing tobacco-related health issues.


Ontario Attorney General Chris Bentley told reporters Tuesday the government filed the suit in an attempt to reclaim the money dished out by taxpayers to fund the health-care system as it relates to ailments linked to smoking.


"The taxpayers of Ontario have paid a lot of money for health-care costs directly related to tobacco use over the decades," Bentley said, adding $50 billion is the estimated financial strain on the health system linked to smoking since 1955. "We have passed legislation that is consistent with legislation in other places and we believe the taxpayers should be compensated for the costs they have paid."


Although the new law allows government to move forward with the process, it is still required to prove its allegations — and cost estimates — in court.


Bentley played down questions about the government suing over tobacco use in Ontario when the province places hefty taxes on the products. "Even if we related the two, the amount paid out in health-care costs far exceeds the amount any government has collected for taxes," he said.


Acknowledging the length of time that may pass before results, Bentley said: "This is an important lawsuit . . . and we'll pursue it as expeditiously as we can and we'll pursue it to its conclusion."


Provincial NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Tuesday the focus should remain firmly on reducing smoking, which would then filter down into less stress on the provincial health-care system.


"There's no doubt it will be an expensive undertaking and that it will take decades, likely, before it's resolved," Horwath told reporters. "That's why we're saying government should be doing something proactively . . . to help people quit smoking and to help young people to not start smoking in the first place."


Along with Ontario, six other provinces have taken steps to recover health costs from tobacco companies.


Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan government suggested Tuesday it might join Ontario's lawsuit.


Saskatchewan Health Minister Don McMorris said his government likely will decide in the next month whether to launch legal action.


"It is a huge deal," McMorris said of Ontario's decision.


"It is a huge case and the tobacco companies are well-defended and I think it would be very important that — if we decide to move forward — we move forward with a common voice with as many provinces as possible."


The previous NDP government in Saskatchewan passed enabling legislation that allows the province to sue tobacco companies. But Saskatchewan never launched a lawsuit because most large provinces — specifically Ontario — had shied away from legal action, making it too large a burden for Saskatchewan alone.


British Columbia introduced similar legislation in 2000, which was contested by Montreal-based Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd.


In 2005, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the B.C. law, allowing the province to seek health costs from tobacco companies dating back 50 years.


New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Manitoba have also enacted tobacco-cost recovery laws.


In May, a similar bill was tabled in Quebec, where a health department study estimated the health-care costs of smoking in the province at $4 billion a year.

Electronic cigarettes expected to grow in popularity under smoking ban

The clock is ticking for smoking establishments in Michigan. On May 1st the state will go smoke free, which means lighting up in your favorite bar or restaurant will be illegal.


But what about electronic cigarettes, will they be banned as well, and are there any harmful side effects?


Electronic cigarettes have been around for years, but are gaining exposure as more communities go smoke-free. The advantage for smokers is that they can still get a hit of nicotine, but without creating second-hand smoke.


Brandi Crawford has launched a business smell Greensmoke online from her Dowagiac home. The cigarette filters contain nicotine and water and are rechargeable. Instead of putting out smoke, they produce water vapor.


Crawford says she's expecting an increase of customers as Michigan's smoking ban takes effect.

 “Really popular in Florida, California, Chicago, where smoking ban has been in effect for years,” said Crawford.


While users of electronic cigarettes aren't inhaling smoke, it's the nicotine that still concerns doctors. 

Vicksburg family practitioner, Dr. Ken Franklin, warns that electronic cigarettes still aren't good for you.

“Most of the damage from cigarette smoke comes from cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, high-blood pressure, birth defects, caused by nicotine itself,” said Dr. Franklin.