A source familiar with the file confirmed the information to The Canadian Press.
The British Columbia lawsuit dates to 2018 and alleges manufacturers both misrepresented the risk of addiction to opioids and failed to mention side effects and withdrawal symptoms.
It also accuses distributors of allowing opioids to flood the market, contributing to the nationwide addiction crisis.
The province passed a law—the “Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act”—empowering it to pursue class actions on behalf of the federal government and other provincial governments.
B.C’s lawsuit is seeking $85 billion to offset the health-care costs associated with the crisis. Plaintiffs reached a $150-million settlement with pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma Canada in June 2022.
Across Canada, there were more than 38,000 suspected opioid-related deaths between January 2016 and March 2023. Experts have argued the COVID-19 pandemic likely exacerbated the crisis.