ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador says it has been monitoring recent developments in the U.S. litigation concerning the manufacture, sale and distribution of opioids.
A news release Thursday noted a recently reported tentative agreement proposes to resolve the claims against Purdue entities and Sackler family members, and a statement by Purdue Pharma’s head of corporate affairs and communications said “the Sacklers have offered $3 billion in cash as part of the global resolution.”
While the province is encouraged by a stated desire to resolve global claims, the release notes the opioid crisis is not limited to the U.S., and continues to have a devastating impact in Canada, “with a correspondingly extraordinary toll on our health-care system to the ultimate detriment of Canadian taxpayers.”
British Columbia's lawsuit, of which Newfoundland and Labrador is part, aims to recover government health-care and other direct costs incurred due to opioid-related disease, injury or illness.
However, the release states, to date there has been no effort on the part of Purdue entities and the Sacklers to involve Canadian jurisdictions in the discussions that have led to the reported settlement in the U.S.
“Our government remains ready and willing to participate in the reported effort to achieve global resolution of the claims against Purdue entities and the Sacklers,” the release states. “If, however, we are not included in this process, we are determined to continue to pursue our claims against the Purdue entities and also against the members of the Sackler family to the fullest extent permitted by law.”
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