[Intl-tobacco] Newfoundland poised to sue tobacco giants (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Newfoundland poised to sue tobacco giants
by CBC News Online staff / WebPosted Mon Apr 30 16:15:28 2001
Source: CBC News, Monday, 4/30/01

ST. JOHN'S -

The Newfoundland government has started round one in its bid to sue
tobacco companies for the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses.

Public hearings began Monday in the legislature and should wrap up by the
following week.

The bill has already passed first reading in the House of Assembly.
Newfoundland would be the second province in the country to sue tobacco
companies.

Earlier this year, British Columbia refiled a lawsuit against three
Canadian manufacturers. The province alleges they concealed information
about the dangers of tobacco.

Health officials in Newfoundland say smoking-related illnesses cost the
province $60 million a year.

Another $300 million is estimated to be lost in other ways — reduced
productivity at work and lost contributions to the economy when a smoking
or non-smoking worker becomes unable to do his or her job.

Industry, not individuals, to be held accountable

John Lush never smoked a day in his life but he developed lung cancer and
has suffered from small blood clots in his brain.

Lush worked alongside chain smokers for 26 years.

He retired six months short of a full pension and wants tobacco companies
to pay.

"My co-workers and I gave the best years of our lives to the public
service. In return, we have poor health and?a reduction in our pension
benefits."

Bruce Squires agrees with Lush that the industry, and not individuals,
should be held responsible.

Squires is with the Alliance for the Control of Tobacco.

"The tobacco industry knew about these problems, in fact, they sometimes
tried to make them worse in terms of nicotine and addictiveness."