Alberta could sue criminals to recover health-care costs
Last Updated: Monday, May 11, 2009 | 6:47 PM MT
The Canadian Press
Alberta has introduced legislation that would allow the province to sue lawbreakers to recover any health-care costs related to their crimes.
Alberta may become the first province in Canada to file lawsuits against drunk drivers and those convicted of violent crimes, Health Minister Ron Liepert said. The province wants to send a clear message that crime doesn't pay, he said.
Bill 48, introduced on Monday, would also open the door for Alberta to sue tobacco makers or join existing lawsuits to recover health-care costs for tobacco-related illnesses.
Alberta modelled the tobacco lawsuit portion of the legislation on a law already in place in British Columbia that has survived a court challenge, Liepert said. But no policy decision has been made on whether to actually move ahead with these lawsuits, the health minister said, because that would require a debate within government on how to proceed.
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