Benson & Hedges

A proposed deal that would see three tobacco giants pay out billions to provinces and territories, as well as smokers across Canada, has been approved by the companies' creditors, a lawyer representing some of the creditors said on Thursday, calling it an important milestone in a lengthy legal saga.

Three tobacco giants would pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to tens of thousands of Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a newly proposed deal in a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.

More details are expected today on a proposed deal that would see the three major companies pay out billions of dollars to provinces and territories as well as smokers and their loved ones.

Rothmans, Benson & Hedges has become the third tobacco company to receive a temporary reprieve from compensating 100,000 Quebec smokers after securing creditor protection in an Ontario court on Friday, March 22, 2019.

The Quebec Council on Tobacco and Health said on Monday, March 11, 2019, that smokers who won a recent court victory are being denied justice after an Ontario judge granted cigarette maker JTI-Macdonald Corp. protection from its creditors last week.