Saskatchewan to receive over $700 million in historic tobacco settlement

A man who did not want to be identified holds a lit cigarette while smoking in San Francisco, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (Jeff Chiu/AP)

Saskatchewan is in for a windfall of healthcare cash following an historic tobacco settlement approved by the Superior Court of Ontario on Thursday.

Tobacco companies that have sold cigarettes in Canada were ordered to pay a total of $32.5 billion through a national compensation plan intended to recover funds for provincial health care, provide compensation to individual victims of smoking and provide clear accountability to cigarette manufacturers for past conduct.

Saskatchewan will receive approximately $700 million through the settlement.

“Our government is pleased with the decision made in Ontario last week,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said a news release announcing the settlement.

“These funds will support our ongoing cancer care and prevention efforts for the people of our province.”

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The settlement is the third largest resolution in history, according to the province.

The plan follows provincial efforts to crack down tobacco, nicotine and vapour products — especially concerning Saskatchewan’s youth.

In February 2024, the legal age to purchase tobacco and vapour products in Saskatchewan rose from 18 to 19 years old.

Legislative changes around that time also included restrictions on advertising vapour products and restrictions on flavoured vapour products.