Hypocritical Lawsuit?

The Ontario government is suing big tobacco companies for $50 Billion seeking damages for "past, present and on-going healthcare costs linked to tobacco-related illnesses". The lawsuit is the first under the Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act. The Ontario Attorney General believes "that tax payers should be compensated for the costs that they have paid."

Does anyone else find this a little hypocritical? Doesn't the province of Ontario collect over $1Billion annually from the sale of tobacco products and then turn around and sue the companies for selling a LEGAL product? If its so harmful, and so taxing on our health system - why not ban it outright?

The government ruled out banning tobacco a long time ago, claiming education and progressive restrictions were the smarter way to go. The government now needs to decide if allowing the selling of tobacco is worth the extra health care costs. Ontario health system spends $1.6 B annually on tobacco-related illnesses, resulting in about 36 deaths per day. Yes there would probably be a huge black market for tobacco ...but at least it would get it out of sight potential tobacco-addicts and temptations.

But why stop at tobacco companies - why not sue producers of alcohol, or casinos, or McDonald's, Taco Bell, Burger King - there are many health risks associated with those. Is this the way of the future? Will this lawsuit set precedent in terms of corporate social responsibility?

Or another question - what happens with the money, if by chance Ontario wins? Is it put into a general fund?? Or specific for tobacco-related cases? Or will it be put towards programs to reduce use and combat addictions? As a taxpayer I want some satisfaction that this money is being well spent.

Caplan a scapegoat?

From the recent findings from the Ontario Auditor General, Jim McCarter has labelled the e-health initiative as no value for the 1billion tax-payer dollars spent. Millions in untendered contracts and consultant fees has plagued the company and it is obvious that electronic health records are not in the near future for Ontario. How sad and embarrassing - the province lost 7 years and $1B of taxpayer money. Are there more people to blame?
David Caplan stepped down earlier this week as Ontario Minister of Health; before the audit was publicized. But it should be pointed out that money was being mishandled well before Caplan got thrown under the bus. E-heath emerged in 2002, under George Smitherton as Ontario Minister of Health. Where is he now? He's Deputy Premier and running for Mayor of Toronto.... It seems as though Caplan stepped into this mess, and Smitherton should resign as well. Only if ministerial responsibility really existed... Apparently accountability only goes so far in Ontario legislature... Until then, what about McGuinty? - he should've known where and how money was being spent.

What about Sarah Kramer and Alan Hudson? Consultants - extraordinare who sat on the e-Health board, whose bank accounts are lined with hard-working tax-payer monies.

Will the blame game ever sort out who is truly at fault? It is important anymore? The money in contracts cannot be repaid. Sadly Ontario and its taxpayers must take on the burden of terrible management skills experienced at E-health and the Ontario Ministry of health. The future of e-Health has some serious scrutiny to work with. Let's hope my grandchildren are benefited with electronic health records...