As provinces set to get smoking lawsuit cash, advocates seek more mitigation efforts

MONTREAL — Anti-smoking advocates are calling on provinces to use money from a historic tobacco settlement on public health programs.

In March, an Ontario judge approved a $32.5-billion plan requiring three major tobacco companies to pay out billions of dollars in compensation to provinces, territories and former smokers.

Provinces are expected to receive initial payouts on Friday.

Meanwhile, advocates are calling on the provinces to invest that cash into tobacco-reduction strategies.

Les Hagen, with the Association for Action on Smoking and Health, says the settlement includes no remedial actions — so tobacco will continue to be sold and marketed in Canada without further restrictions.

He says there are still an estimated four million tobacco smokers in the country and about 46,000 C