Canadian Tobacco Proceedings

Pan-Canadian Claimant’s Compensation (PCC) Plan

Manitobans who have smoked tobacco and who have been diagnosed with a smoking-related illness may be eligible to claim compensation under a settlement with Canadian tobacco companies. These claims are being managed centrally for all of Canada by Epiq Class Action Services.

Potential Manitoban claimants or their representatives will need to submit a claim through the central claims site at: tobaccoclaimscanada.ca

FAQ

The Canadian Tobacco Proceedings include a settlement to lawsuits against large tobacco companies in Canada, arising from tobacco use and/or exposure in Canada. They include a plan to compensate qualifying Canadian smokers and ex-smokers who have been diagnosed with specific smoking-related illnesses. They also include payments to provincial governments to provide health care to people affected by smoking-related illnesses, and the creation of a foundation that will fund research on tobacco-related diseases.

Individuals who are smokers or former smokers, and who have been diagnosed with lung cancer, throat cancer, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), may be eligible for compensation. There are detailed criteria based on the amount of exposure to tobacco sold by Canadian tobacco companies, and the specific diagnoses. If you think you might qualify for compensation, please see the claims website for detailed criteria.

The claims administrator, Epiq Class Action Services, will provide details of the claims submission timeline and process on the claim’s website. This will include guidance for eligible claimants on how to complete their Claim Forms, and how to provide supporting documents to the Claims Administrator. Anyone who wants to be directly notified about the claim opportunity can register for updates on the claims website.

Potential claimants will need to submit medical records proving their diagnosis of one of the compensated smoking-related illnesses. Details of the medical records that will be accepted are provided on the claim’s website.

Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care does not hold the required medical records and is not able to provide them to claimants. To obtain a copy of any medical records including diagnostic testing results or documentation of a qualifying diagnosis, Manitobans should contact the health care provider that made the diagnosis.

For access to records, individuals should contact the doctor’s office directly to request the information.

If the medical records are held at a facility such as a hospital, they should be requested from the Privacy Officer for that facility. To confirm the process for requesting records from a facility, contact the relevant health authority listed below: