Alberta, Canada

Calgary, AB: (Mar-23-07) A class action lawsuit filed against the province of Alberta accused it of treating people on social assistance programs oppressively. It challenged the arbitrary way the province docked their assistance payments when they were suspected of getting too much and wrongfully denied them full compensation when they were found to have not received the amounts they were entitled to. Though the province denied the allegations, it agreed to a historic class action lawsuit settlement. The average payout has been about $4,100 in addition to the $10.5 million paid out to date. 5,862 people have filed claims, including 326 since the original deadline. The province had set aside $24 million in anticipation that 15,000 people might be eligible to make a claim. [EDMONTON SUN: ALBERTA SOCIAL ASSISTANCE]