Canadian court rejects tobacco appeal |
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Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:46
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OTTAWA (AP) - The Supreme Court of Canada rejected an appeal from foreign tobacco companies to stop a costly health care lawsuit launched by the province of British Columbia.Seven companies, based mainly in the U.S. and the U.K., argued that the province could not use the courts to recover billions of dollars in health care costs from them because provincial legislation applies only to local matters.A lower court ruled in September that the province could legally challenge 15 companies -- including Philip Morris and British Tobacco -- in a lawsuit aimed at recovering medicare costs.The Supreme Court gave no reason for its decision in keeping with customary practice.'The last jurisdictional hurdle has now been cleared,' said Attorney General Wally Oppal. 'We have always taken the position that because they sold and promoted their products in our market, (resulting) in damage to our citizens, that we have the right to legislate against their conduct.'Rob Cunningham of the Canadian Cancer Society called the decision a huge victory for the province.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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