The Alberta Government has passed a new bill, Bill 48, under the Crown's Right of Recovery Act, which would enable it to join other provinces in suing tobacco firms to recover billions of dollars which are spent every year in smoking-related healthcare costs, and over allegations of misrepresenting their products to the public. Also, under the bill, the Government will now be able to reimburse health-care costs from convicted criminals who have obtained injuries while committing an offense or crime.

The bill is being viewed as a positive development by many, but various legal experts and the opposition parties have been quick to raise concerns and doubts over it.

The new legislation allows the Government to recoup costs which have been a result of "wrongful acts or omissions" by tobacco and tobacco products manufacturers. There is a chance that the province would snare an estimated $500 Million in yearly health care costs linked with tobacco use. There, however, have been no confirmations from the authorities on targeting Big Tobacco.

The bill was officially passed on Wednesday, and is now subject to royal approval and proclamation by the Government.