The same legislation also opens the door for the province to sue tobacco makers for the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses.

Legislation introduced on May 11 would allow the government to file lawsuits against convicted criminals to recover any health-care costs related to their crimes.

Health Minister Ron Liepert said that whether it's gang shootings or convenience store robberies, individuals have to know that the taxpayer is not going to be on the hook for their costs.

The health minister said Alberta may be the first province to adopt this type of legislation.

Liepert explained that Bill 48 would also be used to file lawsuits against convicted drunk drivers who injure themselves or others.

It could also allow Alberta to sue tobacco makers or join existing lawsuits in Canada.

Alberta modeled the tobacco lawsuit portion of this legislation on a law in British Columbia which has survived a court challenge, said Liepert.

A 2005 Supreme Court of Canada decision upheld a B.C. law authorizing the province to file lawsuits against tobacco companies that challenged the legislation. Most other provinces have since passed similar legislation to join this legal action.

But Liepert said no policy decision has been made in Alberta on whether to actually move ahead with litigation. He said this would require a debate within government on how to proceed.

In the U.S., all 50 states launched legal action against the tobacco industry to recover the costs of smoking-related illnesses. In 1998, the states agreed to a $25 billion out-of-court settlement.