Ontario sues Big Tobacco for $50B

[Asher]

Now that's-a one big-a lawsuit!

http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/702554

Ontario files $50B tobacco suit

Seeks to recoup smoking-related health care costs dating back to 1955
Sep 29, 2009 10:54 AM
ROB FERGUSON
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
Ontario is suing tobacco companies for $50 billion to recover costs of treating citizens with smoking-related illnesses since 1955.

The lawsuit was filed today and follows enabling legislation passed earlier this year that sets the stage for the court case.

If Ontario is successful in proving its allegations of wrongdoing, tobacco companies would pay damages based on their share of cigarette sales in the marketplace.

Tobacco companies are now expected to file statements of their intent to defend themselves against the lawsuit, which could take years to wind its way through the courts.

British Columbia is also suing tobacco companies, and U.S. jurisdictions have done so as well.

The Ontario government says smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in the province, killing 13,000 people a year - or 36 per day - and costs taxpayers $1.6 billion annually.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Poor small tobacco. Always left out

[Asher]

It's a shame the Toronto mayor isn't running for re-election. He finally found more money to spend!

[rah]

I'm waiting for the counter suit from the tobacco companies saying if they knew it was dangerous why didn't the government make it illegal.

[Asher]

I'm waiting for the counter suit from the tobacco companies saying if they knew it was dangerous why didn't the government make it illegal.

I'm not sure they'd like that. The way Ontario is trending, they'd hop on that and make it so...

You can't smoke in public places, and now you also can't even smoke in some of your own private places.

[rah]

I was talking about sales only. Have there been any challanges to those restrictions in private places yet.

[Asher]

Not that I'm aware of.

I'm just saying with every passing year, Ontario gets more aggressive against the tobacco companies. They can't even display cigarettes in stores anymore either, you need to ask for them.

So if the cigarette companies push their hands like that, I think it's not out of the question to actually implement the ban.

[Lefty Scaevola]

"If Ontario is successful in proving its allegations of wrongdoing, tobacco companies would pay damages based on their share of cigarette sales in the marketplace." Are the governments going to pay damages based on the shares of sales, all the tobacco tax revenues?

[rah]

Yes, then the government would hand the fine over to itself.

[Wezil]

The hypocrisy is incredible.

I look forward to the multibillion dollar suits against alcohol producers and fast food purveyors.

[Asher]

Just think how many Spadina Wavedecks we could build with this money. $$$$$$$$

[rah]

The hypocrisy is incredible.

I look forward to the multibillion dollar suits against alcohol producers and fast food purveyors.

Even after quiting smoking, I agree totally.

[Wezil]

I haven't read the suit but I'd bet good money the government didn't name any native cigarette manufacturers.

[Ben Kenobi]

There have been challenges out here, starting with cars. I dunno if Ontario has taken up the banner, but they can't be far behind.

Poor small tobacco. Always left out

Small tobacco would be our native reservations, and they are *protected*.

[Ben Kenobi]

Dammit, not only does Imran ninja my first comment, wezil ninjas the second!