Proposed Tobacco Settlement Fails to Prioritize Tobacco Reduction
WINNIPEG, MB –
The Manitoba Tobacco Reduction Alliance (MANTRA) expresses deep concern over the proposed settlement with major tobacco companies, which is expected to amount to $32.5 billion in compensation. While this settlement has been framed as a victory for Canadian provinces seeking to recover the health care costs associated with smoking, it falls well short of what Manitobans—and all Canadians—deserve.
“The proposed settlement with Big Tobacco is disappointing,” said Cynthia Carr, Interim Executive Director of MANTRA. “This so-called ‘deal’ offers little to past, present, and future victims of the tobacco industry. A deal funded by the harm caused to more Canadians is no victory for public health.”
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, tobacco companies would fund the compensation payments, in part, through ongoing sales of tobacco products. This model inherently relies on the continued addiction of Canadians to keep the tobacco industry profitable, reinforcing a cycle of harm. This approach conflicts directly with efforts to reduce tobacco use and end nicotine addiction, which remains a leading cause of preventable death in Manitoba and across the country.
The settlement also includes a $1 billion "Foundation," intended to support research into diagnosing and treating future tobacco-related illnesses. However, as Carr emphasized, “There is no meaningful focus on tobacco reduction, cessation initiatives, or awareness campaigns. Instead, this deal prioritizes treating future illnesses rather than preventing them in the first place.” MANTRA strongly believes that any settlement should prioritize investment in tobacco prevention, cessation programs, and public education campaigns aimed at reducing the prevalence of smoking and vaping.
This settlement does not adequately account for the enormous costs of tobacco-related illnesses that have accumulated since the 1950s. The health and economic burdens placed on Manitoba's healthcare system and the families affected by tobacco-related diseases cannot be reconciled with a deal that continues to profit from tobacco sales.
MANTRA calls for a re-evaluation of the settlement’s priorities. The tobacco industry should not be relied upon to fund compensation through future sales, as it undermines the very goal of reducing tobacco use. Instead, MANTRA advocates for stronger commitments to tobacco reduction efforts through a significant public health investment that is arm's length from the government. This would provide support for sustained and significant funding for cessation programs, education, and prevention initiatives that help break the cycle of addiction.
About MANTRA
MANTRA is Manitoba’s only non-profit organization solely dedicated to eliminating commercial tobacco and nicotine addiction from our province. We collaborate with government and non-government organizations alike to develop effective policies and interventions to protect our communities and help Manitobans get the information and resources they need to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from the harms of tobacco and nicotine.
For more information, please contact:
Cynthia Carr
Interim Executive Director
info@mantrainc.ca
