P.E.I. government clears the way to sue tobacco companies
PROVINCE HOUSE BY TERESA WRIGHT The Guardian
Attorney General Gerard Greenan has tabled legislation that will clear the way for Prince Edward Island to seek legal action for health care costs caused by tobacco.
Several other provinces have already enacted similar legislation. This allows them to launch a class-action lawsuit against big tobacco companies for health care costs incurred by provinces when treating citizens who suffer from tobacco-related illnesses, such as cancer.
The Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act tabled this afternoon at Province House will allow P.E.I. to join a class-action suit or launch their own.
"This legislature will enable Prince Edward Island to bring an action against the manufacturers and promoters of tobacco products for the recovery of health care costs, which the province has incurred as a result of the illnesses and diseases related to the use of tobacco and tobacco products," provincial Attorney General Gerard Greenan said Wednesday.
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Wondering aloud from pe writes: Whats next? For years PEI grew tobacco and was known for it. Will the growers be sued? I am not a smoker but seems this could go off in many directions. What about workers who picked this tobacco etc? It seems like it could snowball way beyond anyones imagination....
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bannie ============== from chtown, pei writes: what of the people them selves,do they not need some help.Govt will squander
the moneys they receive,their friends pockets are over flowing now,give some to those who are in need of it,cover more drugs that are not covered in this
prov.
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sue the government? from PEI writes: the government regulates and taxes sale of tobacco products. The health risks and hazards of tobacco were well-known before Mr Greenan was born. Does the government have culpability for allowing these unsafe products to be sold? What about gambling addiction, where the government or its agents hold a quasi-monopoly? Get real.
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IslandLiberal from Prince Edward Island writes: Bit hypocritical of our government to allow the continued sale of a product that has caused the damages that they seek compensation for.
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What about Alcohol? from PEI writes: Is our Government also going to table legislation that will clear the way for Prince Edward Island to seek legal action for health care costs caused by Alcoholism?
There are many that are seriously ill and many who have died from cirrhosis of the Liver, Heart Disease, Cancer and Circulation Problems due to being addicted to alcohol. There are also Cancer causing chemicals in alcohol. Wood alcohol found in all alcohol products is lethal!
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The moaners from Charlottetown, PEI writes: Let's give up on the two-bit rationalizations, people.
Tobacco was a legal and accepted product long before it became known as poisonous. In fact, tobacco companies covered up for many years research they had on the harmful nature of their product.
That is part of their culpability. They continued to mislead and cover up even after the U.S. Surgeon General's report of 1959 demonstrated conclusively the harm of their product.
During this time and since the provincial govt. has been stuck with the medical costs of treating smokers. It goes far beyond what the govt. takes through tobacco taxes.
In recent years govts. in Canada have invested much time and money to forestall and limit the use of tobacco.
Taxpayers are entitled to compensation for this effort. It is useless to say that smokers should be cut off from cigarettes. Anyone who knows about Prohibition knows the futility of banning a substance like tobacco.
Instead govts. are doing most everything they can to stop young people from starting and helping others to stop smoking. This costs money and several provincial govts. are in court to get it from the obvious source.
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John MacInnis from Charlottetown, PEI writes: That was a great comment written by What about Alcohol? , and IslandLiberal also made a very interesting comment. Alcohol and tobacco use is a serious health issue for a significant percentage of the population, especially as age becomes a factor. It's bizarre that government would sue companies that market tobacco products - taxes that government collects with the retail sale of the product is a major revenue source. If government sues and wins the case, an appeal is virtually guaranteed. The entire process will require a large sum of money for legal counsel, and the continued sale of tobacco products will generate more costs that government (taxpayers) will be shelling out. And the same principles apply to litigating companies that market alcohol products. I can't count the number of people I've known who have died from diseases caused by alcohol and tobacco use.
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Yes, I'm a smoker from pei writes: If an industry's product damages the health of its users then let them replace the health care dollars that are being used up. But don't applaud too soon. That list includes the alcohol industry One might even argue to include the fast food outlets. Also the gambling industry. This legislation as it stands today screams discrimination. It is lunacy for the government to sue an industry that they, themselves, are in collusion with and profiting by.
I do so hope when the government's cases against tobacco companies comes to court a judge will have enough brains to tell the government to solve whatever problem they have with tobacco and health care by refusing to sanction the sale of tobacco products. And I also hope the judge takes into account the government's actions thus far - the continuous reaping of large profits from the pockets of those addicted. The government has not shown itself to be concerned with the health care of the smokers, only concerned in how much they can raise the tobacco tax. Who has to sign off on this product in order for it to reach the store shelves and be available to the consumer ? That's right - health agencies and governments. Without the bobbling nods of their heads neither we nor they would have to worry about health in relation to tobacco.
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m from pe writes: people choose to smoke, or not to smoke. the risks are known, and people make their own decisions. no one is forcing people to smoke tobacco. if they get sick it's their own darn fault. you can't sue the tobacco companies for making money off of stupidity.
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prioritize from pei writes: Would someone please explain what it is about the use of tobacco that ties so many people's undergarments in knots. I am not exaggerating when I state that I read every post printed on here or on the CBC site when it involves addictions and/or the results of those addictions. The only other news articles that get so many posting in a negative vein are those on so-called deadbeat dads. And I heartily disagree with the naughty names people come up with for those dads. Unless you know the personal situation of the dad involved then back off. Now for you people posting against tobacco - please include the situation that lead you to post so negatively. This is a small island. I simply can't believe that so many of you had a family member or close friend pass away from tobacco-related illnesses. Most people make it sound like at least a full 75% of health care monies is going to care for smokers. Others make it seem as though 20 or 30 people pass away daily on this little island from smoking-related illnesses. And the government wants us to believe that tobacco taxes are so small a drop in the bucket that you can't even see it.
Let's be honest here. Smoking is bad for anyone. But please stop turning it into the only boogy man around. So long as the majority concentrate only on the tobacco issue there will never be any positive changes made in the other just as, or more than, serious societal problems we face,
,
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short and sweet from pei writes: Is there some way the courts can subtract the amount of money governments already got through tobacco taxes from any judgement they may possibly win ? If not, then there should be.
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Fred Penn from chtown, pei writes: Does this mean our provincial treasurer Wes can be sued too? He was a tobacco rep......which would make him a promoter of tobacco products..Well maybe not he has already increased the price by 5 dollars in each of his pass two budgets. That might cover your portion Wes.
Since tobacco is so harmfull and we don't want people smoking haha....or do we. The gov does enjoy all that revenue from it. Why don't we take all the money we collect from taxes on it and put it on quit smoking programs.
Ya, the money from cig taxes put it toward getting people to quit. Then we might beleive the gov is actually not after the money, but are serious about helping people.
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Jabba from NB writes: This will sound insensitive, but hear me out.
Feel free to take this out of context if I ever run for office later, but we sort of need people to die. Our entire society and economy depends on it.
As we all know, tobacco cuts life short. Some will point to the costs associated with treating people with medical problems related to tobacco use, but think about a society where everyone lives until their mid-90s. In places like P.E.I. it won't be long before upwards of 50 per cent of the population needs long term home care, medecin and operations. Who will pay for this, especially without tax revenue generated by tobacco?
As society changes, so too will the challenges it faces.
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KUDOS To Yes I Am A Smoker N Prioritize from PEI writes: Couldn't agree more!
All this HYPERBOLE as soon as Tobacco is mentioned! Everyone forgets about the kids huffing in the Wakcy Tobaccie daily and the Cocaine Sniffers, LSD, Date Rape Drugs, Yeah it's all here right on PEI !!! Who's getting all the $$$'s on those poisonous chemicals our young people are into?
Yes Tobacco causes Health Problems but the older folks that smoke didn't know about the dangers. And since the Government got into putting warnings N horror pics on pkgs., banning sales to minors, forcing retailers to be responsible for selling to minors - GUESS WHAT? The amount of nicotine in cigarettes and tobacco increased!!! Now it's three times harder for smokers to QUIT!! Our Young People have the facts on the Health Risks and it still hasn't done much to deter them from smoking!
But as Prioritize has said, smoking isn't the only danger to people's health, alcohol, drugs, Fat laced Fast Foods, Cholesterol, Obesity are also increasing Health Problems. Is our Government going to sue all the Companies that producing products that are causing Government money due to Sick tax payers???
Let's get real! Before long between the Environmental Thumpers, Healthy Living/Eating Thumpers, the Vegans, the Animal Lovers, the Safe Lawns and Gardens enthusiats we'll be holed up in a small green room in our cellars until the Earth gets Reborn!! Or we'll be living on Mars producing Alfred Hitchcock Movies!
We have to start chilling out folks! And hopefully while there's still a morsel of our Freedom of Choice left!
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nonsense from ontario writes: Double KUDOS to YES IAM A SMOKER
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Rob Mceachern from Priests pond, Pe writes: The Economist magazine did a story which is quite relevant.
Smokers will die early and save the health care budget allot more than a non smoker will cost to keep alive.
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