Newfoundland and Labrador has joined British Columbia’s class action against opioid manufacturers and wholesalers.

Justice Minister Andrew Parsons says they have been monitoring the various recent developments in the United States. This includes the recently-reported $3-billion “tentative agreement” that would propose to resolve the claims against Purdue entities and Sackler family members.

British Columbia’s lawsuit, of which Newfoundland and Labrador is a part, aims to recover government health care and other direct costs incurred due to opioid-related disease, injury or illness.

Parsons says NL is ready and willing to participate in the effort to achieve “global” resolution, but if they are not included in the process, government will go after Purdue and members of the Sackler family to the fullest extent permitted by law.