Cancer society wants cash from N.L. tobacco settlement targeted at prevention programs [Video]

The Newfoundland and Labrador government has decided how a half-billion-dollar legal settlement with major tobacco companies will hit the books.

But there are few details at this point on how the province will actually spend that money when it flows into the provincial treasury.

Now the Canadian Cancer Society is weighing in to call for targeted investments it believes could have big impacts.

“Tobacco remains a leading preventable cause of disease and death in the province,” Rob Cunningham, the society’s senior policy analyst, told CBC News.

“It is essential that a significant proportion of the tobacco settlement funds be allocated to strengthen the province’s tobacco control strategy.”

Cunningham noted the province is going to be receiving cash over 20 or 30 years. 

“We can reduce cancer and other diseases, and that’s exactly what the priority should be,” he said.

“The greater the action by the government, the greater the public health benefit will be, …