B.C. Law To Recover Health Costs From Companies Behind Harmful Products

The Province is going after what they call “wrongdoers” to recover the costs of public-health harm their products cause to people.

The government says the public health accountability and cost recovery act will provide the tools necessary for it to recover costs associated with the promotion, marketing and distribution of products that are harmful to adults and children.

Premier David Eby says the government previously warned social media giants, tobacco, drug companies and other big faceless corporations that they would be taking action to hold them accountable for the harm they are causing to people, including kids.

He says, “companies are expected to operate in a way that doesn’t hurt people, period.”

With this legislation, the government will be able to claim public costs, such as hospital treatments and doctor appointments, as well as proactive and preventative measures used to address the risk of disease, illness or injury.

The legislation provides a way for the government to go after social media companies for the harm their algorithms cause people, especially kids.

The Premier said the legislation takes into account the tragic youth suicide deaths of B.C. sextortion victims Carson Cleland and Amanda Todd.

"In the real world we would never allow a company to set up a space for kids where grown adults could be invited in to contact them, encourage them to share photographs and then threaten to distribute those photographs to their family and friends," said Eby at a news conference.

If passed, the legislation will also apply to companies producing products designed to create addiction, particularly in children and young adults.