Foundation to fight tobacco-related diseases
As part of the Plan of Arrangement, a billion dollars will be paid to a foundation that will be created to provide indirect benefits to Canadian tobacco victims and their loved ones by funding projects to fight tobacco-related diseases, in particular to enable more effective and faster detection of these diseases.
The foundation will have $1 billion at its disposal. A contribution of $131 million will come from the $4.25 billion awarded to members of Quebec class actions. This contribution of $131 million represents the total amount of the punitive damages awarded in the Létourneau class action for addiction caused by nicotine in cigarettes.
The Foundation will be independent and free of any influence from tobacco companies or their groups.
The $1 billion paid into the Foundation represents indirect compensation for members of the Létourneau class action, as well as for Canadians who do not receive direct compensation under the Plan of Arrangement.
Those who will not receive direct compensation are :
- People diagnosed with a tobacco-related disease between March 12, 2012, and March 8, 2015;
- People who have been diagnosed with a tobacco-related disease other than lung cancer, throat cancer (larynx, oropharynx or hypopharynx) or emphysema/COPD (grades III and IV);
- People who have been or will be diagnosed with lung cancer, throat cancer (larynx, oropharynx or hypopharynx) or emphysema/COPD (grades III and IV) after March 8, 2019;
- Surviving family members of tobacco victims who are not heirs;
- Members of the Létourneau class action.