From: Subject: HISTORIC TOBACCO LEGISLATION HOLDS MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR PREVENTION AND HEALTH CARE COSTS Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 12:30:33 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/archive/pre2001/1998/113.asp X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 HISTORIC TOBACCO LEGISLATION HOLDS MANUFACTURERS = ACCOUNTABLE FOR PREVENTION AND HEALTH CARE COSTS These are = historic documents=20 for informational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect the = policies and=20 priorities of the government of the day.


NEWS RELEASE

1998:113
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 11, 1998 MINISTRY OF HEALTH =

HISTORIC TOBACCO LEGISLATION HOLDS MANUFACTURERS = ACCOUNTABLE=20 FOR PREVENTION AND HEALTH CARE COSTS

VICTORIA -- Two pieces of legislation introduced today by Health = Minister=20 Penny Priddy will fundamentally change the way the tobacco industry = does=20 business in B.C.=20

"The tobacco industry walks away with millions of dollars in = profits in=20 their pockets and takes no responsibility for paying for - or = preventing - the=20 health care problems they cause," Priddy said.=20

A new Tobacco Fee Act will allow government to charge a = licensing=20 fee to tobacco manufacturers selling cigarettes in B.C., and = amendments to the=20 Tobacco Damages Recovery Act will clarify the legal basis for = lawsuits=20 against the tobacco industry to recover health care costs caused by = tobacco=20 use.=20

"The Tobacco Fee Act is a historic piece of legislation -- = the first=20 and only one of its kind in Canada," Priddy said. "It is a major = milestone in=20 our continuing fight against the damage that tobacco companies wreak = on the=20 health of British Columbians."=20

The new act requires:=20

"This is not about punishing people who are addicted to = cigarettes," said=20 Priddy. "It's about making the industry, and not taxpayers, pay for = the=20 prevention and cessation programs needed to prevent future generations = of=20 British Columbians from becoming victims of tobacco addiction and = smoking-=20 caused illnesses."=20

Total revenue from the new licence fees in this fiscal year is set = at $20=20 million. In future years, the amount will be set by government = regulation. The=20 proportion of the total amount to be paid by each tobacco company will = be=20 determined according to the size of its market share in British = Columbia.=20 Companies with less than five per cent of market share will not be = required to=20 pay a fee, but will have to be licensed.=20

"In other words, the more a particular tobacco company contributes = to the=20 problem, the more it will have to contribute to the solution," Priddy = said.=20 "The licence fee paid by the industry works out to eight cents on a = pack of=20 cigarettes -- a small contribution to make toward funding initiatives = to tell=20 kids and their parents the truth about the dangers of smoking."=20

Priddy said the amendments to the Tobacco Damages Recovery = Act will=20 allow for a fundamental change in how B.C. approaches the tobacco = industry=20 through the courts in seeking to recover health care costs.=20

"In the Minnesota trial this year, the tobacco industry was forced = to=20 reveal much about itself and its behavior," Priddy said. "These = amendments=20 reflect that knowledge, and will ensure that a full and fair = disclosure of all=20 the facts can take place here in B.C.=20

"There has been growing evidence in the past year that the entire = tobacco=20 industry has concealed the known health risks of smoking and the = addictive=20 properties of nicotine, and has targeted children and teenagers to be=20 consumers of its products."=20

Priddy said the amendments will put the onus on the tobacco = industry to=20 prove its marketing strategy did not contribute to teenagers taking up = smoking=20 and adults continuing to smoke, and will ensure a full and fair = examination of=20 all the relevant facts.=20

Every year in British Columbia nearly 6,000 people die from tobacco = product=20 use, and many thousands more become ill or incapacitated. The economic = impact=20 on the province of tobacco-related illness, including health care = costs, is=20 over $1.3 billion.=20

"The lawsuit will help redress the past and force the industry, = rather than=20 our health system, to pay for treating smoking-caused illness, and the = licensing fee will ensure that the industry is forced to join our = efforts to=20 prevent kids from starting to smoke, and help those who want to quit," = Priddy=20 said.=20

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Copyright =A9 1998 Ministry of Health an= d=20 Ministry Responsible for Seniors=20