Sask. joins B.C. class action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers

The Saskatchewan government is taking a step forward on the opioid crisis.

The province announced Tuesday that it is joining British Columbia’s class action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors.

“Everybody that has read the news in the last months or years everywhere in the country has seen the toll that opioids have taken,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said Monday.

The Sask. Party government is to introduce legislation in the fall that it says in a media release “will give Saskatchewan the ability to have a direct action against opioid manufacturers and distributors.

“Also,” the release added, “amendments to The Health Administration Act will allow the Health Minister to take direct action on behalf of government to recover past and future health care costs.”

Alberta has similar legislation that allows it to recoup health care costs from the drug manufacturers related to the opioid crisis.

B.C. also has similar legislation and filed a class action lawsuit last year. The suit alleges the drug makers marketed opioids as less addictive than other painkillers, which is incorrect, and helped trigger a crisis.

Ontario and Alberta previously said they would support B.C. in its lawsuit.

“When I look at the cost to the health system that we all pay for that opioids have caused, I think it’s only appropriate that we are part of that,” Reiter said.

“The opioid crisis has come at a significant cost to citizens, health care and law enforcement,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said in the media release.

“By taking part in the class action launched by B.C., we are giving notice to the drug companies that we believe they have a responsibility to compensate the provinces for a portion of the damage opioid addiction has caused.”

— With files from the Canadian Press