Supreme Court Burns Tobacco

Contrary to popular belief, Glen Clark's NDP government did more than build fast ferries, share a joint chequing account with the BC Federation of Labour, and hire suspicious individuals for home renovation projects. In fact, in 1998, the Clark government passed the Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act. This legislation allowed the province to sue tobacco companies for damages (such as lung cancer or heart disease) inflicted on British Columbians as a result of smoking.

After seven years of court battles, the Act was upheld today by a 9-0 decision of the Supreme Court of Canada. This opens the door for potential claims totaling more than $10 billion against big tobacco, which could wipe out the leading cause of cancer among Canadians. Health Canada estimates the current cost of treating tobacco-related illness at around $4 billion annually.

One would think that Ottawa would be quick off the mark to pass similar legislation, but Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh has more or less thrown out that idea and stomped on it like some many ashen butts: "I don't think that one views these kinds of issues as cash cows...It is never the intention of any government to bankrupt any companies." It's this kind of amoral spineless toadyism that cost this province an Official Opposition in 2001 when Dosanjh was the outgoing Premier, and why no one in the NDP misses him.

Ujjal might just be bitter because this ruling could shed a more positive light on the Glen Clark legacy, and may remind some people about who stabbed Clark in the back shortly after this legislation was passed. Hopefully when his bitter smoke cloud clears, he'll remember that he's the Minister of Health and Welfare, not the Minister of Corporate Welfare, and do the right thing.