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B.C. can pursue class-action suit on opioid providers, top court rules

Click to play video: 'Supreme Court upholds B.C. opioid lawsuit'
Supreme Court upholds B.C. opioid lawsuit
The B.C. government has won the legal right to take on opioid providers as part of the province's ongoing illicit drug crisis. The Supreme Court of Canada ruling Friday a class action lawsuit can continue. Richard Zussman has more. – Nov 29, 2024

Canada’s top court has affirmed the constitutionality of a law that would allow British Columbia to pursue a class-action lawsuit against opioid providers on behalf of other provinces, the territories and the federal government.

The Supreme Court of Canada decision today is another step toward a potential cross-country action by governments that paid to treat patients who took the addictive drugs.

Section 11 of B.C.’s Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act allows the province to bring an action against opioid manufacturers and distributors on behalf of multiple governments, but also allows a government to opt out of the proceeding.

Click to play video: 'Health Matters: New opioid treatment guide adds methadone'
Health Matters: New opioid treatment guide adds methadone

Several companies argued Section 11 violates the Constitution by overstepping provincial authority.

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B.C. courts declared the law valid, prompting the companies to take their case to the Supreme Court.

In its decision today, the top court says the B.C. law respects the legislative sovereignty of other Canadian governments.

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