One day after a landmark $15-billion court ruling against Big Tobacco in Quebec, the smokers, former smokers and families affected say they finally feel vindicated.

Lung cancer survivor Micheline Belanger said the judgment is about more than the money, it's also about sending the message that cigarettes can kill.

Belanger started stealing cigarettes from her parents when she was 12 years old.

“I was drawn into smoking,” she said. “I was hooked, I think, the very first time I smoked a cigarette and I remained hooked for 48 years.”

She smoked two packs a day for almost five decades, with predictable consequences.

“I am one of the very lucky ones that survived lung cancer. I have part of my lung that was removed,” she said.

Belanger quit smoking before the cancer surgery four years ago, but admits her addiction didn't make it easy.

“When I was told I had lung cancer, the very first thing I thought was, ‘I have this thing now and I won't be able to stop smoking.’ Now if that is not misery, then I don't know what is,” she said.

Belanger said she feels some measure of comfort now that the class-action lawsuit she took part in won its battle against Imperial Tobacco, Rothman's, Benson & Hedges and JTI Macdonald, the companies ordered to pay the $15 billion in damages to almost 100,000 Quebec smokers and ex-smokers.

She is infuriated by Big Tobacco's response.


“This trial is about personal choices and the personal choices made by adult consumers that knew about the risk of smoking tobacco,” said Nadine Bernard at Imperial Tobacco Canada.

“It is not a choice,” said Belanger. “You think you have a choice but when you're hooked, you're dependent – you are a slave.”

That's a critical part of the judgment, said Dr. Genevieve Bois from the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control.

"The tobacco companies conspired to addict and hide and distort the data,” she said.Bois hopes the case will pave the way for any anti-smoking legislation in the future.

“The tobacco companies say they have grounds for appeal,” she said,

Belanger - whose lung cancer is in remission - says the judgment can't be ignored.

“It's a statement that tobacco kills, it kills people and I hope it will send a message to young people not to walk in our footsteps,” she said.