A proposed settlement of $150 million has been reached with Purdue Pharma Canada covering all provinces and territories to recover healthcare costs related to the sale and marketing of opioid-based painkillers.

British Columbia Attorney General David Eby said on Wednesday that this is the largest government healthcare cost claim settlement in Canadian history.

The province launched a proposed class action lawsuit in 2018 against more than 40 pharmaceutical companies on behalf of all federal, provincial, and territorial governments aiming to recover healthcare costs due to the "unlawful conduct of opioid manufacturers, distributors, and their consultants."

Eby said the proposed settlement has been accepted by governments across Canada and work is underway on a plan to determine how to divide the funds, based on the impact of each province.

He said, "The funds will be allocated to support provincial programs to combat the opioid epidemic, which we believe Purdue's actions contributed to through deceptive marketing."

More than 27,000 people nationwide died from toxic street drugs between 2016 and September 2021.

Eby said during a press conference: "We have taken this action to recover healthcare costs and hold opioid companies accountable for their role in engaging in deceptive marketing tactics to increase sales, resulting in higher rates of addiction and overdoses."

The Attorney General said there are many manufacturers, distributors, and their consultants still listed in the lawsuit.

The Supreme Court trial is scheduled for fall 2023. The government said this could open the door for more settlements to recover healthcare costs.