Tobacco settlement won’t solve problem in Canada: advocates [Video]

The Canadian Cancer Society and other health advocates say a proposed settlement that may see tobacco companies pay out billions of dollars would do little to prevent future generations from becoming addicted to smoking.

A proposed $32.5-billion deal filed in an Ontario court would see three companies — JTI-Macdonald Corp., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. — financially compensate provinces and territories as well as some smokers and their families.

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Rob Cunningham, senior policy analyst and lawyer at the Canadian Cancer Society, says that while the settlement is a good first step, it fails to support public-health measures that would change the fact that tobacco is the leading cause of death in Canada.

The settlement includes $1 billion for research into tobacco-related diseases, but Cunningham says it should be modified to also …