Pan-Canadian Claimants’ Compensation Plan
This page provides a summary of the Pan-Canadian Claimants’ Compensation Plan (“PCC Compensation Plan”). The PCC Plan sets out the process by which Canadian Tobacco-Victims and their heirs may submit a claim for compensation.
PCC Plan Agent
The PCC Compensation Plan has an official agent to answer your questions and help you submit a claim. The Claims Administrator is Epiq, and they can be contacted using the information below:
Tobacco Claims Administrator
c/o Epiq Class Action Services Canada Inc.
PO Box 3408 STN B
Ottawa ON K1P 6H8
Toll-Free (in Canada): 1-888-482-5852
Email : [email protected]
Website: https://www.tobaccoclaimscanada.ca/fr
If you have any questions about this plan, contact Epiq.
Plan of Arrangement Approved by the Ontario Superior Court
On March 6, 2025, the Ontario Superior Court approved the Plan of Arrangement involving Canada’s three major tobacco companies: Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. and JTI-Macdonald Corp. This Plan includes, among other things, the PCC Compensation Plan.
An amount of 2.521 billion has been allocated to the PCC Compensation Plan.
Criteria for Compensation
To be eligible for compensation under the PCC Plan, you must be a smoker or ex-smoker who:
Be a smoker or ex-smoker who:
1. Has smoked at least 87,600 cigarettes manufactured by Imperial Tobacco, RBH or JTI-MacDonald between January 1,1950 and November 20, 1998.
How do I calculate a smoking history?
87,600 cigarettes in fact correspond to 12 pack-years. The pack-year is a unit of measure to calculate the smoking history of a smoker or ex-smoker, based on American packs of cigarettes which have 20 cigarettes per pack, whereas there are 25 cigarettes per pack in Canada.
87,600 cigarettes could be, for example:
- 20 cigarettes a day for 12 years:
(20 × 365 × 12 = 87,600 cigarettes); - 10 cigarettes a day for 24 years:
(10 × 365 × 24 = 87,600 cigarettes); - 10 cigarettes a day for 4 years, then 20 cigarettes a day for 6 years and, finally, 40 cigarettes a day for 2 years, or even;
- 10 cigarettes a day for 2 years, 20 cigarettes a day for 5 years, no cigarettes at all for one year and then 20 cigarettes a day for 6 years.
According to the definition of the class, only the cigarettes smoked on or before November 20, 1998 can be calculated in your smoking history. This means that any cigarette smoked in the past 25 (almost 26) years does not count.
A smoking history might be hard to calculate because of how much time has passed since then and because you think of cigarettes smoked in terms of 25-cigarette packs. Don’t worry, though, once it is time to claim, we will help you figure out the relevant smoking history.
2. Has been diagnosed between March 8, 2015, and March 8, 2019 (inclusive of those dates) with one of the following diseases:
– Primary lung cancer;
What is a primary cancer?
A primary cancer, as opposed to secondary cancer, specifies the organ in which it first appeared.
A secondary cancer implies that the initially localized cancer has metastasized and spread to other organs in the body.
For example, kidney cancer initially develops in the kidney tissue. It may then metastasize and develop in the lungs. In this example, even though there may be cancer cells growing in the lungs, the cancer is NOT considered a primary lung cancer, but rather a primary kidney cancer.
– Primary squamous cell cancer of the throat (larynx, oropharynx or hypopharynx); or
Which throat cancers are covered?
The term “throat” is regularly used, but it is not a medical term and it does not describe a specific part of the body. What we commonly call “throat” actually refers to different parts of the upper aerodigestive tract.
The class definition limits the compensable throat cancers to primary squamous cell cancers of the larynx, oropharynx or hypopharynx.
The term “larynx” refers to the upper part of the respiratory passage situated above the trachea, which can also be called the “voice box”. It is divided into three parts: the supraglottis, the glottis and the subglottis.
The term “oropharynx” refers to the part of the pharynx below the soft palate and above the epiglottis, and continuous with the mouth. It includes the soft palate, the side and back walls of the throat, the tonsils and the back third of the tongue. The anterior two-thirds of the tongue – also known as the “body of the tongue” – are, however, considered as a structure of the oral cavity and not included in the oropharynx.
The term “hypopharynx” refers to the laryngeal part of the pharynx extending from the hyoid bone to the lower margin of the cricoid cartilage.
If you are unsure where the throat cancer originated, register anyway.
– Emphysema or COPD (GOLD grades 3 or 4).
If you were diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019, the Pan-Canadian Claimant Compensation Plan provides compensation for certain Canadian smokers or ex-smokers. For more information, click here.
3. Was a resident of Canada at the time of diagnosis and was still a resident of Canada when the claim was submitted.
To be eligible, you must be the Legal Representative of the Estate of a Pan-Canadian Claimant who:
1. Has smoked at least 87,600 cigarettes manufactured by Imperial Tobacco, RBH or JTI-MacDonald between January 1,1950 and November 20, 1998.
How do I calculate a smoking history?
87,600 cigarettes in fact correspond to 12 pack-years. The pack-year is a unit of measure to calculate the smoking history of a smoker or ex-smoker, based on American packs of cigarettes which have 20 cigarettes per pack, whereas there are 25 cigarettes per pack in Canada.
87,600 cigarettes could be, for example:
- 20 cigarettes a day for 12 years:
(20 × 365 × 12 = 87,600 cigarettes); - 10 cigarettes a day for 24 years:
(10 × 365 × 24 = 87,600 cigarettes); - 10 cigarettes a day for 4 years, then 20 cigarettes a day for 6 years and, finally, 40 cigarettes a day for 2 years, or even;
- 10 cigarettes a day for 2 years, 20 cigarettes a day for 5 years, no cigarettes at all for one year and then 20 cigarettes a day for 6 years.
According to the definition of the class, only the cigarettes smoked on or before November 20, 1998 can be calculated in your smoking history. This means that any cigarette smoked in the past 25 (almost 26) years does not count.
A smoking history might be hard to calculate because of how much time has passed since then and because you think of cigarettes smoked in terms of 25-cigarette packs. Don’t worry, though, once it is time to claim, we will help you figure out the relevant smoking history.
2. Has been diagnosed between March 8, 2015, and March 8, 2019 (inclusive of those dates) with one of the following diseases:
– Primary lung cancer;
What is a primary cancer?
A primary cancer, as opposed to secondary cancer, specifies the organ in which it first appeared.
A secondary cancer implies that the initially localized cancer has metastasized and spread to other organs in the body.
For example, kidney cancer initially develops in the kidney tissue. It may then metastasize and develop in the lungs. In this example, even though there may be cancer cells growing in the lungs, the cancer is NOT considered a primary lung cancer, but rather a primary kidney cancer.
– Primary squamous cell cancer of the throat (larynx, oropharynx or hypopharynx); or
Which throat cancers are covered?
The term “throat” is regularly used, but it is not a medical term and it does not describe a specific part of the body. What we commonly call “throat” actually refers to different parts of the upper aerodigestive tract.
The class definition limits the compensable throat cancers to primary squamous cell cancers of the larynx, oropharynx or hypopharynx.
The term “larynx” refers to the upper part of the respiratory passage situated above the trachea, which can also be called the “voice box”. It is divided into three parts: the supraglottis, the glottis and the subglottis.
The term “oropharynx” refers to the part of the pharynx below the soft palate and above the epiglottis, and continuous with the mouth. It includes the soft palate, the side and back walls of the throat, the tonsils and the back third of the tongue. The anterior two-thirds of the tongue – also known as the “body of the tongue” – are, however, considered as a structure of the oral cavity and not included in the oropharynx.
The term “hypopharynx” refers to the laryngeal part of the pharynx extending from the hyoid bone to the lower margin of the cricoid cartilage.
If you are unsure where the throat cancer originated, register anyway.
– Emphysema or COPD (GOLD grades 3 or 4).
If the tobacco victim was diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019, the Pan-Canadian Claimant Compensation Plan provides compensation for certain Canadian smokers or ex-smokers. For more information, click here.
3. Was a resident of Canada at the time of diagnosis and at the time of death.
4. Passed away on or after March 8, 2019.
Smoker or ex-smoker
Be a smoker or ex-smoker who:
1. Has smoked at least 87,600 cigarettes manufactured by Imperial Tobacco, RBH or JTI-MacDonald between January 1,1950 and November 20, 1998.
How do I calculate a smoking history?
87,600 cigarettes in fact correspond to 12 pack-years. The pack-year is a unit of measure to calculate the smoking history of a smoker or ex-smoker, based on American packs of cigarettes which have 20 cigarettes per pack, whereas there are 25 cigarettes per pack in Canada.
87,600 cigarettes could be, for example:
- 20 cigarettes a day for 12 years:
(20 × 365 × 12 = 87,600 cigarettes); - 10 cigarettes a day for 24 years:
(10 × 365 × 24 = 87,600 cigarettes); - 10 cigarettes a day for 4 years, then 20 cigarettes a day for 6 years and, finally, 40 cigarettes a day for 2 years, or even;
- 10 cigarettes a day for 2 years, 20 cigarettes a day for 5 years, no cigarettes at all for one year and then 20 cigarettes a day for 6 years.
According to the definition of the class, only the cigarettes smoked on or before November 20, 1998 can be calculated in your smoking history. This means that any cigarette smoked in the past 25 (almost 26) years does not count.
A smoking history might be hard to calculate because of how much time has passed since then and because you think of cigarettes smoked in terms of 25-cigarette packs. Don’t worry, though, once it is time to claim, we will help you figure out the relevant smoking history.
2. Has been diagnosed between March 8, 2015, and March 8, 2019 (inclusive of those dates) with one of the following diseases:
– Primary lung cancer;
What is a primary cancer?
A primary cancer, as opposed to secondary cancer, specifies the organ in which it first appeared.
A secondary cancer implies that the initially localized cancer has metastasized and spread to other organs in the body.
For example, kidney cancer initially develops in the kidney tissue. It may then metastasize and develop in the lungs. In this example, even though there may be cancer cells growing in the lungs, the cancer is NOT considered a primary lung cancer, but rather a primary kidney cancer.
– Primary squamous cell cancer of the throat (larynx, oropharynx or hypopharynx); or
Which throat cancers are covered?
The term “throat” is regularly used, but it is not a medical term and it does not describe a specific part of the body. What we commonly call “throat” actually refers to different parts of the upper aerodigestive tract.
The class definition limits the compensable throat cancers to primary squamous cell cancers of the larynx, oropharynx or hypopharynx.
The term “larynx” refers to the upper part of the respiratory passage situated above the trachea, which can also be called the “voice box”. It is divided into three parts: the supraglottis, the glottis and the subglottis.
The term “oropharynx” refers to the part of the pharynx below the soft palate and above the epiglottis, and continuous with the mouth. It includes the soft palate, the side and back walls of the throat, the tonsils and the back third of the tongue. The anterior two-thirds of the tongue – also known as the “body of the tongue” – are, however, considered as a structure of the oral cavity and not included in the oropharynx.
The term “hypopharynx” refers to the laryngeal part of the pharynx extending from the hyoid bone to the lower margin of the cricoid cartilage.
If you are unsure where the throat cancer originated, register anyway.
– Emphysema or COPD (GOLD grades 3 or 4).
If you were diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019, the Pan-Canadian Claimant Compensation Plan provides compensation for certain Canadian smokers or ex-smokers. For more information, click here.
3. Was a resident of Canada at the time of diagnosis and was still a resident of Canada when the claim was submitted.
Estate of a tobacco victim
To be eligible, you must be the Legal Representative of the Estate of a Pan-Canadian Claimant who:
1. Has smoked at least 87,600 cigarettes manufactured by Imperial Tobacco, RBH or JTI-MacDonald between January 1,1950 and November 20, 1998.
How do I calculate a smoking history?
87,600 cigarettes in fact correspond to 12 pack-years. The pack-year is a unit of measure to calculate the smoking history of a smoker or ex-smoker, based on American packs of cigarettes which have 20 cigarettes per pack, whereas there are 25 cigarettes per pack in Canada.
87,600 cigarettes could be, for example:
- 20 cigarettes a day for 12 years:
(20 × 365 × 12 = 87,600 cigarettes); - 10 cigarettes a day for 24 years:
(10 × 365 × 24 = 87,600 cigarettes); - 10 cigarettes a day for 4 years, then 20 cigarettes a day for 6 years and, finally, 40 cigarettes a day for 2 years, or even;
- 10 cigarettes a day for 2 years, 20 cigarettes a day for 5 years, no cigarettes at all for one year and then 20 cigarettes a day for 6 years.
According to the definition of the class, only the cigarettes smoked on or before November 20, 1998 can be calculated in your smoking history. This means that any cigarette smoked in the past 25 (almost 26) years does not count.
A smoking history might be hard to calculate because of how much time has passed since then and because you think of cigarettes smoked in terms of 25-cigarette packs. Don’t worry, though, once it is time to claim, we will help you figure out the relevant smoking history.
2. Has been diagnosed between March 8, 2015, and March 8, 2019 (inclusive of those dates) with one of the following diseases:
– Primary lung cancer;
What is a primary cancer?
A primary cancer, as opposed to secondary cancer, specifies the organ in which it first appeared.
A secondary cancer implies that the initially localized cancer has metastasized and spread to other organs in the body.
For example, kidney cancer initially develops in the kidney tissue. It may then metastasize and develop in the lungs. In this example, even though there may be cancer cells growing in the lungs, the cancer is NOT considered a primary lung cancer, but rather a primary kidney cancer.
– Primary squamous cell cancer of the throat (larynx, oropharynx or hypopharynx); or
Which throat cancers are covered?
The term “throat” is regularly used, but it is not a medical term and it does not describe a specific part of the body. What we commonly call “throat” actually refers to different parts of the upper aerodigestive tract.
The class definition limits the compensable throat cancers to primary squamous cell cancers of the larynx, oropharynx or hypopharynx.
The term “larynx” refers to the upper part of the respiratory passage situated above the trachea, which can also be called the “voice box”. It is divided into three parts: the supraglottis, the glottis and the subglottis.
The term “oropharynx” refers to the part of the pharynx below the soft palate and above the epiglottis, and continuous with the mouth. It includes the soft palate, the side and back walls of the throat, the tonsils and the back third of the tongue. The anterior two-thirds of the tongue – also known as the “body of the tongue” – are, however, considered as a structure of the oral cavity and not included in the oropharynx.
The term “hypopharynx” refers to the laryngeal part of the pharynx extending from the hyoid bone to the lower margin of the cricoid cartilage.
If you are unsure where the throat cancer originated, register anyway.
– Emphysema or COPD (GOLD grades 3 or 4).
If the tobacco victim was diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019, the Pan-Canadian Claimant Compensation Plan provides compensation for certain Canadian smokers or ex-smokers. For more information, click here.
3. Was a resident of Canada at the time of diagnosis and at the time of death.
4. Passed away on or after March 8, 2019.
Compensation Amounts Under the PCC Compensation Plan
The table below shows the maximum payment amount that can be approved for a Tobacco-Victim who satisfies all the applicable PCC Eligibility Criteria:
| For tobacco victims who started smoking before January 1, 1976 | For tobacco victims who started smoking on or after January 1, 1976 | |
|---|---|---|
| Lung cancer | Up to $60,000 | Up to $48,000 |
| Throat cancer | Up to $60,000 | Up to $48,000 |
| Emphysema or COPD (grades 3 or 4) |
Up to $18,000 | Up to $14,400 |
IMPORTANT : If the amount of $2.521 billion is not sufficient to pay the maximum compensation to eligible claimants under the PCC Compensation Plan, the compensation will be adjusted downward on a pro rata basis.