Canada’s highest court has upheld the constitutionality of a law that would allow B.C. to bring a class action against opioid suppliers on behalf of other provinces, territories and the federal government.
THE Supreme Court of Canada Today’s decision is another step toward potential nationwide action by governments that have paid to treat patients who have taken addictive drugs.
Section 11 of British Columbia’s Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act allows the province to bring action against opioid manufacturers and distributors on behalf of multiple governments, but also allows a government to withdraw from the procedure.
Several companies argued that Section 11 violated the Constitution by overstepping provincial authority.
British Columbia courts declared the law valid, prompting the companies to take their case to the Supreme Court.
In today’s decision, the highest court affirms that British Columbia’s law respects the legislative sovereignty of other Canadian governments.
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