The P.E.I. government's lawsuit against tobacco companies covers all tobacco-related illnesses in the province dating back to 1953. (Shutterstock)

Prince Edward Island has joined a growing list of provinces suing tobacco companies to recoup health-care costs for tobacco-related illnesses.

The province filed a claim with P.E.I. Superior Court, the government announced Wednesday.

"This claim begins the process of holding the tobacco industry to account for the harm it has caused to Islanders," Minister of Environment, Labour and Justice Janice Sherry said in a release. "Similar to legal claims in other provinces, we are going to ask the court to require these companies to reimburse the Crown for health-care costs attributable to their sale and promotion of tobacco at a time when they were aware of the harm smoking was doing to their customers."

The claim covers tobacco-related illnesses in P.E.I. dating back to 1953.

Earlier this year, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta filed similar suits. British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador had already done so.

Nova Scotia is expected to follow suit.