B.C. TO BATTLE TOBACCO MAKERS

Health groups applaud as firms angrily dismiss landmark
suit

OTTAWA - British Columbia launched a landmark lawsuit against the
country's big tobacco companies yesterday, then renewed efforts to get
other provinces on board for what promises to be a lengthy struggle.

The B.C. action was applauded by the country's health community, but
angrily dismissed by the tobacco companies.

Imperial Tobacco, RJR-Macdonald Inc. and Rothmans, Benson and Hedges
Inc. immediately launched their own court challenge of legislation
which accompanied yesterday's court action.

That law compels tobacco manufacturers to reveal the contents of their
products and orders them to help defray British Columbia's
anti-smoking campaign.

B.C. says it is seeking billions of dollars - no specific amount was
cited - to protect future generations against the hazards of smoking
and to recover some of the $400 million it spends annually treating
patients with smoking-related illnesses. It alleges cigarette makers
failed to warn consumers of the dangers of smoking, targeted children
in their advertising and must bear financial responsiblity for the
cost of treating those made ill by their products.

``This is a battle to protect British Columbia's children,'' Health
Minister Penny Priddy said. ``Some 20,000 of our teenagers will die as
adults from tobacco use if nothing changes.''

Rob Parker, president of the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers' Council,
said the B.C. legislation attempts to set up the government as
prosecutor, judge and jury in its own case.

``This is state-sponsored extortion, not a simple lawsuit. We reject
these allegations and we will fight them,'' he said.

Priddy said Parker's characterization of the lawsuit is ``outrageous,
just nonsense.

``My immediate concern is the children of British Columbia.''

She said she will continue to work to bring other provinces onside,
but Ontario, for one, isn't interested.

``I would hope that Ontario children are as important as British
Columbia children and other provinces would take action to protect
their own,'' Priddy said.

``Our hope is that when others see this is possible, that they will be
encouraged to do it, too.''

She said was ``deeply disappointed'' to be told by Ontario's Elizabeth
Witmer that the Ontario minister was too busy to meet with her next
week.

A spokesperson for Witmer said the province has no plans to launch a
similar suit or join with B.C. in its legal battle.

Ontario's strategy on tobacco is based on prevention through education
and anti-smoking campaigns aimed primarily at teens and women, the
spokesperson said.

Priddy will meet with federal Health Minister Allan Rock in Ottawa
next week.

But Ottawa also has no plans to join the lawsuit at this point, a Rock
spokesperson said.

``We do vigorously support any process which will provide additional
information regarding the risks associated with smoking,'' Derek Kent
said.

The health community applauded the B.C. move, likening it to the
American experience where the first moves by Mississippi eventually
led to a flood of lawsuits and settlements.

``This is a historic development,'' said Rob Cunningham of the
Canadian Cancer Society.

``It's an effort to hold tobacco companies accountable before the law
and it will provide an opportunity to get information from the tobacco
companies into the public domain.''


Checked-by: Pat Dolan