Historic tobacco settlement could see some Manitobans receive compensation

Cynthia Carr with MANTRA Inc. discusses a historic deal that will see three tobacco companies pay out billions in compensation.

One local organization is helping Manitobans access individual claims related to a historic tobacco settlement agreement; however, the criteria is quite specific.

The deal will see three major tobacco companies pay out more than $24 billion in compensation to provinces and territories over two decades, as well as $2.5 billion for smokers not included in the lawsuits.

Cynthia Carr with the Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance (MANTRA) explained that the province will receive about $1 billion. However, she said, the estimated economic burden to Manitoba in past and future effects of commercial tobacco is $42 billion.

“It is nothing compared to the actual economic cost,” she said in an interview with CTV Morning Live on Monday.

Not everyone who smokes will qualify for compensation. To be eligible, the claimant must meet certain criteria, including having smoked a minimum of 12 pack-years of cigarettes manufactured by certain brands between Jan. 1, 1950, and Nov. 20, 1998.

Claimants also must have been diagnosed with lung cancer, throat cancer, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Grades 3 and 4) between March 8, 2015, and March 8, 2019.

Carr is warning Manitobans that Tobacco Claims Canada is the only source for settlement claims outside of Quebec. No other websites, law firms, or services are authorized.

“We want to really caution people that it’s not open yet, but it has been approved,” Carr said.

“So, we don’t want people falling victim to predators or companies saying, ‘You need to pay us. We will take you through the process.’ That is not true.”

Carr added that the money from the tobacco companies will only come from commercial tobacco products and does not include other alternate products, including vapes or pouches.

More details on compensation eligibility and which cigarette brands are involved can be found online.

• With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé.