British Columbia’s class-action lawsuit targeting opioid manufacturers, distributors, and consulting firms will proceed after the B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed final legal challenges brought against the case.
Attorney General Niki Sharma says the ruling removes the last barriers to the lawsuit moving forward, with trial now scheduled for early 2028.
The province first launched the legal action in 2018 under the Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act. The goal is to recover public health-care costs associated with opioid-related harms and to hold companies accountable for their alleged role in the crisis, including claims of deceptive marketing practices that contributed to increased opioid use, addiction, and overdose deaths.
In a statement, the Attorney General said the decision represents another step in a long legal process aimed at addressing what the province declared a public-health emergency in 2016. She added that too many people in British Columbia have been impacted through loss or ongoing struggle related to the opioid crisis.
The province says it will continue supporting people affected by addiction and substance-use disorders while advancing the case through the courts.
The lawsuit is part of a broader national effort, with B.C. leading coordinated action on behalf of governments across Canada.
Comments