{"settlement":{"id":"tobacco-pcc-compensation-plan-2025","slug":"tobacco-pcc-compensation-plan-2025","title":"Pan-Canadian Claimants' Compensation Plan (PCC)","category":"Product Liability and Defects","status":"Claims open","tags":{"industry":["Consumer goods"],"geographic":["Canada-wide"],"recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Medical records required","Other documentation"],"eligibilityTrigger":["Purchased a product","Was a patient or received treatment","Was exposed to a substance or contamination"]},"classDefinition":"People who reside in Canada (or resided in Canada at the time of their death), smoked at least twelve pack-years (87,600 cigarettes) sold by the Canadian Tobacco Companies between January 1, 1950 and November 20, 1998, were diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019 (inclusive) with primary lung cancer, primary throat cancer (squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx), or emphysema or COPD (GOLD Grade III or IV), resided in Canada on the date of diagnosis, and were alive on March 8, 2019. Estates of eligible Tobacco-Victims who were alive on March 8, 2019 may also claim.","plainLanguageSummary":"If you smoked at least 87,600 cigarettes sold by the Canadian tobacco companies between 1950 and 1998 and were diagnosed with lung cancer, throat cancer, or severe emphysema or COPD between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019, you may be eligible for $14,400 to $60,000 depending on your disease and when you started smoking.","eligibilityCriteria":[],"recoveryRange":"Up to $60,000 per person, reduced pro rata if claims exceed the fund","filingInstructions":"Gather medical documents proving the diagnosis and date of diagnosis (for lung or throat cancer, a pathology report; for emphysema or COPD, a spirometry test report), unless you are a Quebec resident who authorizes the Claims Administrator to confirm the diagnosis through Quebec health registries\nEstimate the smoking history (cigarettes per day and years smoked between January 1, 1950 and November 20, 1998); a calculator is available at https://www.TobaccoClaimsCanada.ca/en/HomePCC/Calculator\nIf you are a representative of a living or deceased Tobacco-Victim, gather the documents proving your legal authority (and, for a deceased victim, proof of death) listed in Attachment A of the Claim Form\nComplete the PCC Claim Form online through the Claimant Portal at https://www.TobaccoClaimsCanada.ca, or fill out the paper form\nSign the Statutory Declaration in front of a Commissioner of Oaths or Notary Public; the PCC Agent can commission your signature at no additional cost by video call\nSubmit the Claim Form with all supporting documents online, by email, by fax, or by registered mail before 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on September 3, 2027\nKeep your record of transmission until you receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt of Claim","caseBackground":"In March 2019, Canada's three major tobacco companies, Imperial Tobacco Canada, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, and JTI-Macdonald, entered insolvency proceedings after a Quebec class action judgment ordered them to pay over $13.5 billion. Through court-supervised mediation, the companies reached a global settlement with their creditors, including the provinces and territories, the Quebec class action plaintiffs, and court-appointed counsel representing tobacco victims across the rest of Canada. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the settlement on March 6, 2025.\n\nThe settlement created two compensation plans for smokers and ex-smokers diagnosed with certain tobacco-related diseases. The Pan-Canadian Claimants' (PCC) Compensation Plan, with $2.521 billion available, compensates people across Canada diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019 with lung cancer, throat cancer, or severe emphysema or COPD. A separate plan, the Quebec Class Action Administration Plan (QCAP), covers Quebec class members diagnosed before March 12, 2012. A person can only be paid under one plan, for the disease and plan that provide the highest compensation.","administratorName":"Tobacco Claims Canada (Epiq)","administratorContacts":[{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-888-482-5852"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"info@TobaccoClaimsCanada.ca"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://www.tobaccoclaimscanada.ca/en/HomePCC/Plan"}],"administratorRole":"claims","agentName":"PCC Agent (Epiq)","agentContacts":[{"type":"email","label":"","value":"PCCAgent@TobaccoClaimsCanada.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"","value":"1-888-482-5852"},{"type":"online","label":"","value":"https://www.TobaccoClaimsCanada.ca/en/HomePCC"}],"agentClaimFormHelp":true,"classCounselName":"","classCounselContacts":[],"classCounselFirms":[],"submissionMethods":[{"type":"online","label":"Online claimant portal","value":"https://www.tobaccoclaimscanada.ca/en/Login"},{"type":"email","label":"","value":"info@TobaccoClaimsCanada.ca"},{"type":"fax","label":"","value":"1-866-262-0816"},{"type":"mail","label":"Registered Mail","value":"Tobacco Claims Canada, Claims Administrator, P.O. Box 2958 STN B, Ottawa ON K1P 5W9"}],"sourceDocuments":[{"url":"/uploads/894f7b30a50cd331a7a5deef-PCC-Claim-Form-EN---6.28.2026.pdf","title":"Claim Form"},{"url":"/uploads/be320669ad9e06b9b475c896-PCC-Information-Circular-EN.pdf","title":"Additional Settlement Document"},{"url":"/uploads/e6ac6907f7dd71a0c38c1178-PCC-Claim-Form-FR---6.30.2026.pdf","title":"Formulaire de réclamation"},{"url":"/uploads/4899f68c46d3ffc0610014be-PCC-Information-Circular-FR-08-31-25.pdf","title":"Document supplémentaire"}],"shortFormNoticeUrl":"","longFormNoticeUrl":"","settlementAgreementUrl":"","claimFormDocumentUrl":"/uploads/894f7b30a50cd331a7a5deef-PCC-Claim-Form-EN---6.28.2026.pdf","claimForms":[{"id":"6f988f58f411","url":"/uploads/894f7b30a50cd331a7a5deef-PCC-Claim-Form-EN---6.28.2026.pdf","name":"Claim Form","language":"en","description":""},{"id":"92fb5eabece9","url":"/uploads/e6ac6907f7dd71a0c38c1178-PCC-Claim-Form-FR---6.30.2026.pdf","name":"Formulaire de réclamation","language":"fr","description":""},{"id":"99db7e9d4e9d","url":"/uploads/93efcb8e4b956b28c8d1bf44-PCC-Physician-Form-EN-4.10.2026.pdf","name":"Physician Form","language":"en","description":"This Physician Form is completed by a licensed physician to verify a Tobacco Victim's diagnosis and diagnosis date when medical records are unclear or unavailable."},{"id":"6daf793d297e","url":"/uploads/231a1345767829716939d302-PCC-Physician-Form-FR-4.10.2026.pdf","name":"Formulaire du Médecin","language":"fr","description":"Ce formulaire s'adresse aux victimes du tabac dont le dossier médical ne confirme pas clairement le diagnostic ou sa date."},{"id":"16e44ed8e784","url":"/uploads/df0c9b42ea39dc09f5df86ff-PCC-Quebec-Physician-Form-10.6.2025.pdf","name":"Physician Form (Quebec)","language":"en","description":"This Physician Form lets a licensed physician certify a Tobacco-Victim's diagnosis and date when medical records proving diagnosis cannot be found."},{"id":"a91bf3bc8eb8","url":"/uploads/7159e9f67ae2c672729c71e1-PCC-Quebec-Physician-Form-FR-9.9.2025.pdf","name":"Formulaire du Médecin (Quebec)","language":"fr","description":"Ce formulaire s'adresse aux réclamants québécois devant fournir une preuve alternative de diagnostic établie par un médecin."},{"id":"9278d9926e81","url":"/uploads/969377b44aa35f32d7e3e905-PCC-Compensation-Plan-Authorization-of-Co-Executors-Outside-Quebec.pdf","name":"Compensation Plan Authorization of Co-Executors (Outside Quebec)","language":"en","description":"For a co executor, co trustee, co administrator, co attorney, co guardian, or co committee authorizing another co authority to act on a claim."},{"id":"b21d4eedb9b0","url":"/uploads/abc1b97abd05929629ee6bb3-Formulaire-d-Autorisation-des-co-ex-cuteurs-testamentaires-hors-Qu-bec-du-PCC.pdf","name":"Formulaire d'Autorisation des co‑exécuteurs testamentaires (hors Québec)","language":"fr","description":"Ce formulaire s'adresse aux co-avocats, co-membres de comité, co-tuteurs ou co-liquidateurs autorisant Epiq à agir avec eux au nom de la victime du tabac."},{"id":"a2ee7c2d916e","url":"/uploads/611ce8229241f12e9e1fe630-PCC-Compensation-Plan-Authorization-of-Co-liquidator-and-Co-mandatary-Quebec.pdf","name":"Compensation Plan Authorization of Co-liquidator and Co-mandatary (Quebec)","language":"en","description":"This form authorizes a co-liquidator or co-mandatary to act on behalf of a tobacco victim or their estate in a claim."},{"id":"721ccbbf8959","url":"/uploads/982d474295c283c76885e697-Formulaire-d-Autorisation-du-coliquidateur-et-du-comandataire-Qu-bec-du-PCC.pdf","name":"Formulaire d'Autorisation du coliquidateur et du comandataire (Québec)","language":"fr","description":"Ce formulaire s'adresse aux personnes agissant à titre de co-liquidateur ou co-mandataire pour une victime du tabac ou son héritier."}],"claimFormsButtonLabel":"forms","claimFormsUnavailable":false,"claimFormsUnavailableReason":"","claimFormGuides":[{"id":"legacy-en","url":"/uploads/69e5ee5531bb8f72da92267d-Quick-Reference-Guide---Completing-the-Paper-Claim-Form-2026-07-16.pdf","name":"Claim Form Guide","language":"en"},{"id":"legacy-fr","url":"/uploads/fcdc5a873f0ff31e209c7837-Remplir-le-Formulaire-de-r-clamation-papier-Guide-de-r-f-rence-rapide-2026-07-16.pdf","name":"Guide du formulaire de réclamation","language":"fr"}],"additionalDocuments":[],"optOutFormUrl":"","optOutInstructions":"","objectionFormUrl":"","objectionInstructions":"","faqs":[{"answer":"The maximum payment is $60,000 for lung or throat cancer and $18,000 for emphysema or COPD (GOLD Grade III or IV) for victims who started smoking before January 1, 1976; the maximums are $48,000 and $14,400 for those who started smoking on or after that date. Payments may be reduced proportionately if the $2.521 billion available is not enough to pay all eligible claims, and each claimant is paid for the one disease that results in the highest payment.","question":"How much compensation can I receive?"},{"answer":"The PCC Claim Form and all supporting documents must be received (or postmarked, for registered mail) by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on September 3, 2027. Medical and estate documents can take time to obtain, so start gathering them early.","question":"What is the deadline to file a claim?"},{"answer":"You must provide medical documentation confirming the diagnosis, such as a pathology report for lung or throat cancer or a spirometry test report for emphysema or COPD. Quebec residents can instead authorize the Claims Administrator to confirm the diagnosis through Quebec health registries. Smoking history is provided on the Claim Form itself, which must be sworn before a Commissioner of Oaths or Notary Public.","question":"What proof do I need to submit?"},{"answer":"If your claim is approved, payment will be issued after the September 3, 2027 claim deadline, once all claims have been reviewed and decisions finalized. The payment date will be posted at https://www.TobaccoClaimsCanada.ca once determined.","question":"When will I be paid?"},{"answer":"If your claim is rejected, you will receive a Notice of Rejection with a Request for Review Form, and you may request a review by an independent Review Officer within 60 days. If you do not meet the PCC criteria but reside or resided in Quebec and were diagnosed before March 12, 2012, you may qualify under the separate QCAP Plan through the QCAP Agent, Proactio, at 1-888-880-1844 or tabac@proactio.ca. Only lung cancer, throat cancer, and emphysema or COPD (GOLD Grade III or IV) are compensated, but a $1 billion charitable foundation was created to fund research and programs for other tobacco-related diseases.","question":"What if my claim is rejected or I was diagnosed with a different disease?"}],"eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"resides-in-canada","text":"Do you currently reside in Canada (or, if you are claiming for someone who has died, did they reside in Canada at the time of their death)?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"smoked-twelve-pack-years","text":"Did you smoke at least 87,600 cigarettes (twelve pack-years) sold by the Canadian Tobacco Companies between January 1, 1950 and November 20, 1998?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"This equals any combination adding up to 87,600 cigarettes, for example 10 cigarettes a day for 24 years or 20 a day for 12 years, even with breaks in between.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"diagnosed-2015-2019","text":"Were you diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019 (inclusive) with primary lung cancer, primary throat cancer, or emphysema or COPD (GOLD Grade III or IV)?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"resided-canada-at-diagnosis","text":"Did you reside in a Canadian province or territory on the date of that diagnosis?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"Your place of residence is the province or territory that issued your health insurance card or driver's licence.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true},{"id":"alive-march-2019","text":"Was the person who was diagnosed alive on March 8, 2019?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"If the person has since died, their estate may still claim as long as they were alive on March 8, 2019.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true}],"uncertainMessage":"Some of your answers were Not sure, so we could not confidently determine your eligibility.","qualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement.","nonQualifyingMessage":"Based on your answers, you do not appear to fall within the class definition for this settlement."},"claimCategories":[{"id":"lung-or-throat-cancer","name":"Primary lung cancer or primary throat cancer","description":"For Tobacco-Victims diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019 with primary lung cancer or primary squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx (throat cancer).","recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Medical records required"],"recoveryRange":"$60,000 maximum if the victim started smoking before January 1, 1976; $48,000 maximum if they started smoking on or after January 1, 1976. Amounts may be reduced proportionately if the $2.521 billion fund cannot pay all eligible claims.","eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"cancer-diagnosis","text":"Were you (or the person you represent) diagnosed with primary lung cancer or primary throat cancer between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019?","type":"yes_no","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true}]},"eligibilityCriteria":["Diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019 (inclusive) with primary lung cancer or primary throat cancer (squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx)","Smoked at least twelve pack-years (87,600 cigarettes) sold by the Canadian Tobacco Companies between January 1, 1950 and November 20, 1998","Resided in Canada on the date of diagnosis and currently resides in Canada (or resided in Canada at death)","Alive on March 8, 2019"]},{"id":"emphysema-copd","name":"Emphysema or COPD (GOLD Grade III or IV)","description":"For Tobacco-Victims diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019 with emphysema or severe COPD classified as GOLD Grade III or IV.","recoveryType":["Cash payment"],"documentation":["Medical records required"],"recoveryRange":"$18,000 maximum if the victim started smoking before January 1, 1976; $14,400 maximum if they started smoking on or after January 1, 1976. Amounts may be reduced proportionately if the $2.521 billion fund cannot pay all eligible claims.","eligibilityChecker":{"questions":[{"id":"copd-diagnosis","text":"Were you (or the person you represent) diagnosed with emphysema or COPD (GOLD Grade III or IV) between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019?","type":"yes_no","helpText":"GOLD Grade III (severe) and IV (very severe) are the two most severe categories of COPD.","qualifyingAnswer":"yes","criticalForEligibility":true}]},"eligibilityCriteria":["Diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019 (inclusive) with emphysema or COPD (GOLD Grade III or IV)","Smoked at least twelve pack-years (87,600 cigarettes) sold by the Canadian Tobacco Companies between January 1, 1950 and November 20, 1998","Resided in Canada on the date of diagnosis and currently resides in Canada (or resided in Canada at death)","Alive on March 8, 2019"]}],"proceedings":null,"relatedSlugs":[],"group":{"slug":"tobacco-claims-canada","title":"Tobacco Claims Canada Settlement (Imperial Tobacco, Rothmans Benson & Hedges, JTI-Macdonald)","summary":"One court-approved settlement under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, sanctioned on March 6, 2025, resolving the Quebec tobacco class actions and the claims of smokers across Canada. It creates two compensation plans with different eligibility windows, deadlines and payment tiers: the Quebec Class Action Administration Plan (QCAP) for Quebec residents diagnosed before March 12, 2012, and the Pan-Canadian Claimants' Compensation Plan (PCC) for residents anywhere in Canada diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019. A person may claim under only one plan.","membersIntro":null,"structure":"multi_proceeding","members":[{"slug":"quebec-tobacco-qcap-2025","title":"Quebec Class Action Administration Plan (QCAP)","classDefinition":"Quebec residents (or persons who resided in Quebec at the time of their death) who smoked at least twelve pack-years (87,600 cigarettes) sold by the Canadian Tobacco Companies between January 1, 1950 and November 20, 1998, were diagnosed before March 12, 2012 with primary lung cancer, primary throat cancer (squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx or hypopharynx), or emphysema or COPD (GOLD Grade III or IV), resided in Quebec on the date of diagnosis, and were alive on November 20, 1998. Estates and heirs of Tobacco-Victims who died after November 20, 1998 may also claim.","status":"Claims closed","geographic":["Quebec"],"deadline":"2026-08-31","lastVerifiedAt":"2026-08-25","seriousHarmEnabled":false,"quietPresentation":false,"isSelf":false},{"slug":"tobacco-pcc-compensation-plan-2025","title":"Pan-Canadian Claimants' Compensation Plan (PCC)","classDefinition":"People who reside in Canada (or resided in Canada at the time of their death), smoked at least twelve pack-years (87,600 cigarettes) sold by the Canadian Tobacco Companies between January 1, 1950 and November 20, 1998, were diagnosed between March 8, 2015 and March 8, 2019 (inclusive) with primary lung cancer, primary throat cancer (squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx), or emphysema or COPD (GOLD Grade III or IV), resided in Canada on the date of diagnosis, and were alive on March 8, 2019. Estates of eligible Tobacco-Victims who were alive on March 8, 2019 may also claim.","status":"Claims open","geographic":["Canada-wide"],"deadline":"2027-09-03","lastVerifiedAt":"2026-08-25","seriousHarmEnabled":false,"quietPresentation":false,"isSelf":true}]},"cardSummary":"If you smoked heavily before November 20, 1998 and were diagnosed with lung cancer, throat cancer, or severe emphysema or COPD between March 2015 and March 2019, you may be able to claim $14,400 to $60,000.","proofRequired":"","claimTime":"","claimAmount":"","coverageStartDate":"1950-01-01","coverageEndDate":"1998-11-20","deadline":"2027-09-03","optOutDeadline":"","objectionDeadline":"","approvalHearingDate":"","approvalHearingDates":[],"approvalPending":false,"resolution":"settlement","judgmentAppealed":false,"seriousHarmEnabled":false,"quietPresentation":false,"formHelperEnabled":false,"dateAdded":"2026-08-25","lastUpdated":"2026-09-06","firstPublishedAt":"2026-08-26 02:08:15","claimsOpenedAt":"2026-08-26 02:08:15","lastVerifiedAt":"2026-08-25","languages":["en","fr"]}}