Oct. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Quebec, Canada’s second-most populous province, is preparing a C$30 billion ($27.9 billion) lawsuit against cigarette companies to recoup smoking-related health- care costs, CBC News reported today.

The lawsuit follows the adoption of legislation this summer allowing Quebec to recover damages from the companies, the network reported on its Web site, citing Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc. Ontario began a similar suit last week, CBC said.

Quebec spends about C$1 billion a year treating people suffering from smoking-related illnesses, the CBC also said. Eric Gagnon, a spokesman for Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, the province’s largest cigarette- maker, called the move “pure hypocrisy,” because the province also taxes tobacco products, the broadcaster reported.

To contact the reporters on this story: Alexandre Deslongchamps in Ottawa at adeslongcham@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 5, 2009 09:10 EDT