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The province is considering joining B.C.’s lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies related to the opioid overdose epidemic that’s claimed tens of thousands of lives in North America.

A spokesman for Alberta Health and Wellness said an announcement on that decision will be coming soon.

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“The B.C. class-action lawsuit is structured to allow all provinces the option of joining. We’re aware that some have confirmed they’re participating,” Steve Buick said in a statement.

“We’re considering our options, including joining the B.C. suit. We’re working toward announcing a decision shortly.”

A year ago, Alberta’s previous NDP government said it was also weighing the merits of joining legal action launched in 2018 by B.C., the province hardest hit by the opioid crisis dominated by the synthetic painkiller fentanyl.

Alberta has already joined B.C., the federal government and seven other provinces and territories in creating a working group on opioid litigation that shares information on the crisis and evaluates joining the lawsuit.