We’re getting loud about directly addressing the decades of harm caused by commercial tobacco products in Canada. Get loud with us.
While $24.7 billion is headed to the provinces and territories through a landmark Tobacco Settlement, this Ontario court decision doesn’t include any requirements for how those funds are spent. If you think that these funds should be used to directly address the devastating harm of tobacco use, it’s time to speak out.
Have Your Say Through Our Email Campaign
This easy tool will help you send a message to your province or territory’s Minister of Finance and Minister of Health:
Tobacco Settlement Funds Must Address the Harms of Tobacco Use
We are calling on the provinces and territories of Canada to invest the tobacco settlement money into improving care for Canadians harmed by tobacco and preventing the next generation of Canadians from becoming addicted to nicotine.
It’s time to do the right thing.
Tobacco Settlement Reactions by Province
With Canada’s healthcare system already under strain, the National Lung Health Alliance and its partner organizations stand ready to assist governments in ensuring these funds have the greatest possible impact on lung health. Here’s what we know about provincial commitments so far.
No commitments have been made yet. Use our email tool to urge action!
Your National Lung Health Alliance (NLHA) member organization:
“Alberta Lung is a non-profit and volunteer-based charity that raises money to fight lung disease, fund lung health research and support patients in need. We also serve as an advocate on lung health issues with government, industry and the community.”
Per a March 6 statement from the Office of the Premier and Ministry of the Attorney General:
“B.C. will receive approximately $3.7 billion over approximately 18 years to invest in cancer treatment and primary care, expand research into treatments and to promote smoking cessation.”
Your National Lung Health Alliance (NLHA) member organization:
“The BC Lung Foundation is a registered charity in Canada, previously known as the BC Lung Association. From their first to last breath, we’re committed to giving the 1 in 5 British Columbians affected by a lung condition hope, help and a voice. For more than 110 years, we have led the fight for healthy lungs and healthy air, whether it’s searching for cures to lung diseases, keeping kids off tobacco and e-cigarettes, or fighting for laws that protect the air we all breathe.”
Per reporting by Nicole Buffie from the Winnipeg Free Press:
A spokesperson for Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said the money will be used to pay for cancer treatment.
“Every single dollar that comes to Manitoba as part of this settlement will go towards fighting cancer so more Manitobans can hear those four magic words: you are cancer free,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
Your local organization:
Manitoba Lung Association: “Our mission is to help all Manitobans breathe with ease. We do this through healthy breathing education, advocacy and research. We are a registered charity and are Licensee of the Canadian Lung Association. Donations made in Manitoba go to helping Manitobans directly.”
No commitments have been made yet. Use our email tool to urge action!
Your National Lung Health Alliance (NLHA) member organization:
NB Lung provides patient support and advocacy, lung transplant assistance, continued learning and professional development for healthcare workers, environmental programs and so much more.
No commitments have been made yet. Use our email tool to urge action!
No commitments have been made yet. Use our email tool to urge action!
No commitments have been made yet. Use our email tool to urge action!
Your National Lung Health Alliance (NLHA) member organization:
The Lung Association of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island offers programs and services for Nova Scotians and Islanders living with lung disease, while advocating for better policies to improve lung health in NS and PEI.
Per the Minister of Health’s March 7 statement:
These funds will:
- Strengthen healthcare services, with Nunavut receiving $97 million—$23 million upfront and the remainder over time.
- Provide compensation to individuals affected by smoking-related illnesses through a court-monitored third-party organization.
- Support research into smoking-related diseases.
- Hold tobacco companies accountable for their past actions.
No commitments have been made yet. Use our email tool to urge action!
Your National Lung Health Alliance (NLHA) member organization:
The Lung Health Foundation, formally the Ontario Lung Association, is dedicated to ending gaps in the prevention, diagnosis, and care of lung disease in Ontario and throughout Canada. We invest in the future by driving groundbreaking research, and we give patients and their families the programs and support they need today.
No commitments have been made yet. Use our email tool to urge action!
Your National Lung Health Alliance (NLHA) member organization:
The Lung Association of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island offers programs and services for Nova Scotians and Islanders living with lung disease, while advocating for better policies to improve lung health in NS and PEI.
No commitments have been made yet. Use our email tool to urge action!
Your National Lung Health Alliance (NLHA) member organization:
L’Association pulmonaire du Québec est un organisme sans but lucratif qui intervient dans le domaine de la santé respiratoire.
No commitments have been made yet. Use our email tool to urge action!
Your National Lung Health Alliance (NLHA) member organization:
Lung Saskatchewan: “For more than 110 years, we have been at the forefront of improving lung health in Saskatchewan. Through the years, our commitment to continuous improvement has fueled our passion to advance our work in order to serve you better.”
No commitments have been made yet. Use our email tool to urge action!
About the National Lung Health Alliance:
The National Lung Health Alliance (NLHA) is Canada’s leading advocacy network for lung health. Led by the Lung Health Foundation, the alliance includes several organizations: BC Lung Foundation, Alberta Lung, Lung Saskatchewan, Association Pulmonaire du Quebec, NB Lung, LungNSPEI, Lung Cancer Canada, Asthma Canada and COPD Canada.