Canada's Quebec province to sue tobacco companies

Health Minister Yves Bolduc did not specify the amount to be claimed in the lawsuit, which will come after three other provinces launched similar actions, but “there's a chance” it will be proportional to Ontario's claim, he said.

Ontario filed a lawsuit last week against a group of tobacco companies to recoup 50 billion Canadian dollars (US$46 billion) in smoking-related health care costs.

The claim represents the health care costs borne by Ontario taxpayers since 1955, the Ontario government said in a statement.

According to Radio-Canada, Quebec's claim could top 30 billion dollars (US$28 billion).

A spokesman for Imperial Tobacco, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco, called the lawsuits “hypocritical” because the dangers of smoking have been known for decades and provinces already charge taxes on cigarettes.

British Columbia and New Brunswick also sued tobacco firms but despite years of litigation and negotiations neither case is yet resolved.

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