As World No Tobacco Day approaches, three charities are calling on Canada's premiers to fight back against smoking
Three of the country's health organizations are urging Canada's premiers to push for initiatives to reduce smoking.
The Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Lung Association and the Heart and Stroke Foundation have written an open letter to premiers across the country.
The groups say tobacco causes a devastating toll and companies need to be held accountable.
All of the provinces have filed lawsuits against Imperial Tobacco Canada, Rothmans, Benson and Hedges, and JTI Macdonald.
The lawsuits are collectively seeking over $500 billion in damages for tobacco-related health care costs, making these the largest lawsuits in Canadian history.
The health organizations say at least ten people of the money from a settlement should go towards long-term funding to reduce smoking.
"The lives and health of Canadians are at stake in these historic negotiations, and we want to ensure their voices are heard," says Andrea Seale, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society. "We are deeply concerned that the negotiations are being held behind closed doors and that tobacco companies are at the table but health organizations are not. Provinces must ensure that public health is the top priority in the negotiations."
Other recommendations include banning all promotion of tobacco products, requiring the industry to make extra payments if tobacco reduction targets are not met, and disclosing internal company documents.
"We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect kids, prevent disease, save lives, and reduce health care costs that are a result of these deadly products," says Doug Roth, CEO, Heart & Stroke. "Provinces must use the leverage they have in the negotiations to achieve a major public health victory."
Tobacco is one of the leading causes of cancer, heart disease, stroke and respiratory disease.
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