Summary

• B.C. was the first province in Canada to take legal action against manufacturers of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals”
• The Province filed a national class action in 2024 with the B.C. Supreme Court to recover costs of detecting and removing these chemicals from drinking-water systems across the country
• The City of Penticton is joining the class action and will represent B.C.’s municipalities to ensure their experience and evidence are included as the case moves forward

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The City of Penticton is joining the Province’s national class-action lawsuit to hold manufacturers of “forever chemicals” accountable for the contamination of drinking-water systems.

Municipalities are on the front lines of managing drinking and wastewater services, and they are dealing directly with the impacts of these chemicals in their communities. By joining the class action, the City of Penticton will represent municipalities, and help ensure the experience and evidence of local governments is included as the case moves forward.

“Municipalities are managing the real impacts of these chemicals every day,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “By working with the City of Penticton, we are strengthening this class action and making sure companies that created and profited from chemicals that are affecting our water systems are held accountable.”

By testing and monitoring water systems, Penticton has been a national leader in protecting its residents and visitors from perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as forever chemicals. The city also plays a leading role in co-ordinating municipalities as they work to mitigate the impact of these chemicals. By joining B.C.’s class action, the city will help demonstrate how these chemicals are affecting communities throughout the province.

What are forever chemicals?

PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals used in products such non-stick cookware, cleaning supplies, safety gear and water-resistant materials. They are often called forever chemicals because they don’t break down easily and can remain in the environment for decades. PFAS also accumulate in the human body, and at certain levels can cause several severe health effects.

“Penticton is taking a proactive and responsible approach to protect our drinking water, now and into the future,” said Mayor Julius Bloomfield. “Our water is safe, but the ongoing costs of monitoring and mitigating these forever chemicals is significant. By joining this action, we are helping ensure municipalities are not left to manage the long-term costs of these contaminants on their own.”

Growing scientific evidence has shown that PFAS chemicals are linked to serious health problems, including certain cancers, thyroid problems, a weakened immune system, reproductive issues and developmental problems in children.

The city will continue to ensure the water in Penticton is clean and safe, and will support the Province in holding PFAS manufacturers responsible for the cost of keeping it that way.

Holding companies accountable

In June 2024, British Columbia filed a national lawsuit against manufacturers of PFAS and PFAS-containing products, on behalf of provincial, territorial and municipal governments responsible for providing water services to people in Canada. The Province is seeking to recover costs of detecting, monitoring and removing these chemicals from drinking-water systems.

“The negative health effects of PFAS in water are real, and studies show that exposure to them has been linked to increased blood pressure, developmental impacts in children and even some cancers,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “Through collaboration with the City of Penticton, we are working to protect the safety and quality of drinking and wastewater from lasting impacts of ‘forever-chemicals’ across the province.”

The case is now moving to the certification stage, where the court decides whether it can proceed as a class action, meaning one case brought on behalf of a larger group. As part of this process, the Province has asked the court to include the City of Penticton to represent municipalities. As a representative plaintiff, a party that brings a case on behalf of a larger group, Penticton will help make sure the views of municipalities and the reality faced by communities are presented in court.

Leading the charge

British Columbia has taken the lead nationally in taking companies to court for compensation when their actions have caused widespread harm to people in the province. This includes successfully taking the world’s largest tobacco, opioid and vaping manufacturers to the highest courts to recover health-care costs.

This class action against forever chemicals manufacturers builds on government’s work to hold companies accountable for widespread public harms to people in B.C.

Quotes:

Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship –

“Forever chemicals contaminate rivers, lakes and groundwater for generations, and people in B.C. deserve polluters be held accountable. We’re committed to protecting B.C.’s source water and making it clear, alongside the City of Penticton, that forever chemicals have no place in our drinking water systems.”

Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs –

“Communities across B.C. rely on safe drinking-water systems, and local governments shouldn’t be left to bear the costs and challenges of addressing contaminants like forever chemicals. The Province’s action supports a co-ordinated approach to holding PFAS manufacturers accountable, and helps ensure local governments are represented as the case moves forward.”

Quick Facts:

• B.C. was the first in Canada to sue major tobacco companies to recover health-care costs, and stands to receive more than $3.6 billion from a $32.5 billion settlement approved by the Ontario Supreme Court in March 2025.
• In December 2025, the Province passed the Vaping Product Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, which allows B.C. to start or join lawsuits against companies involved in making and selling vaping products, including manufacturers, wholesalers and advisers.
• The Province is also leading two class action-lawsuits to recover the health-care costs of treating opioid-related harms and holding companies accountable for their role in creating and spreading the opioid crisis.

Learn More:

• To read the Attorney General’s statement on the Province’s civil claim against forever chemicals, visit: news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024AG0033-000978
• To learn more about B.C. legislation, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/legislation/
• To read the Attorney General’s statement on the B.C. Supreme Court’s decision to certify the class-action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and distributors, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/31920
• To read the Attorney General’s statement on B.C. receiving the first tobacco litigation payment, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/32718