CALGARY (CP) _ Alberta's health minister is looking at rewarding businesses that create healthy workplaces and keep people out of the health-care system.

Iris Evans has already floated the idea of Alberta becoming the first province to give tax breaks to individuals for gym memberships or recreational activities.

Now she's looking at ways to encourage business.

``I'm admiring what many corporations do to build on the health of their employees,'' Evans said Tuesday. ``We can look at that from the incentive perspective.''

The minister could not say what forms those incentives would take, only that it's something that will be explored in the coming months as Alberta looks to reform its health-care system.

``Employers who take a leadership role in assuring their employees are living balanced lives, looking after their health and wellness are going to ultimately extend that person's life and their productivity,'' said Evans.

``It's going to take a little bit of time. But I'm seeing both on the individual wellness side and the corporate wellness side opportunities to ... explore whether or not there's a form of financial incentive. Stay tuned.''

Studies show that corporations which encourage physical activity, either by subsidizing fitness programs or providing on-site fitness areas, already see payoffs for their investment.

That includes reduced turnover and absenteeism, fewer workplace injuries and reduced medical claims.

Premier Ralph Klein wants wellness and disease prevention to play a big part in Alberta's strategy to fix problems with modern medicare. He stressed to a public health symposium Tuesday that investments made in keeping people healthy pay off in more than just reduced health-care costs.

``When people live healthier lifestyles, they're better people,'' Klein said. ``They are better parents for their kids, better bosses and employees and better members of their communities.''

However, Klein opposes a provincewide smoking ban in public places on the grounds that it would be bad for business. He has promised public debate on that issue.

Making changes requires putting more resources into public health, a Toronto expert told the same conference. Teams of public health professionals would focus on getting kids and parents more active and improving their eating habits.

``That's not something you pay physicians to do, that's why you need public health nurses and nutritionists,'' said Dr. John Frank of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. ``That's not an important part of the care system, that's a grossly underfunded part of public health.''

Frank estimates that less than three per cent of public health dollars in Canada are spent on wellness initiatives. He says that's got to change.

``Every part of Canada has somebody in a local public heath unit with this kind of training but now they are frequently being asked to manage some aspect of care services when their real expertise is being able to work upstream on the factors that cause ill health,'' he said.

Frank says without major change, more than a third of Canadians will need treatment for diabetes by the time they hit old age.

``Every community should have a team that works with the schools,'' he said. ``That includes someone who knows about exercise, who knows about diet.''

Last month, Klein encouraged regional health authorities and front line workers to look for creative ways to revamp the health system. The premier said Tuesday that some have been coming forward with ideas, but no changes are likely to be implemented under the end of 2005.