rr ne ee aS ee ae ea SS a OO ee te —— News November 20, 2002 Historical Tobacco Control Case Debuts in Vancouver Mt ~ David Sabanes OP Contribttor The unprecedented beginning of a major tobacco trial debuted November 4 in Vancouver. The trial will be the tobacco industry's second challenge of the Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act. The Act was introduced in 1997 by the NDP government. The provincial government, who holds legislative authority over the tobacco industry, has been seeking accountability from them, and has also been seeking com- pensation for smoking-related health care costs in British Columbia. The first time the tobacco industry challenged the Act it won, on the grounds that the government exceed- ed its territorial authority by includ- ing foreign tobacco companies in the suit for compensation. However, the provincial govern- ment has now excluded foreign defendants from the trial. The Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers are now claiming that according to the Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, the case holds no constitutional authority to seek compensation from their market. As the trial commences, tempers are flaring up. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and the Yukon and the BC Lung Association have pledged their support of the govern- ment, and against tobacco manufac- turers. “The tobacco industry has hidden the truth about their products and now, instead of admitting the harm, they are taking the provificial govern- ment to court in order to delay jus- tice,” stated Bobbe Wood, Chief Executive Officer of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The BC Lung Association's Scott McDonald is equally as frustrated with this breakthrough case. “Each year, about 5500 British Columbians die from the ‘use of tobacco prod- ucts—and the tobacco industry is concerned about the constitutional validity of the Act? Tobacco is the only product, when used as intended, [which]! will kill half its users,” he said. The Act parallels legislation in the United States where the tobacco industry arranged, in an out-of-court settlement, to pay US$246 billion over 25 years to 50 state governments. Four weeks of trial time has been set aside for the suit. SET YOUR STYLE ON FIRE ...... YOUR URBAN WEAR SPECIALTY STORE Come and see us for your custom men’s & ladies’ clothing, : shoes, watches & more urban accessories. until November 30, 2002 Representing gear from the latest and hottest designers out there: Oot. . Co ih, i. Oe he a a Be LOCATED AT #3, 4250 KINGSWAY, BURNABY (One block from Patterson Skytrain Station, Next to Shaw Cable) Phone: 604.431.5520 Store Hours: Monday — Saturday 10am — 6pm Sunday 12pm — 6pm Visit our website at www.aramic.ca as © page 6 the other press