Alberta courts ordered restitution for 12 breaches of the Residential Tenancy Act in 2016-17 and meted out an unprecedented $7,000 fine to a landlord found to have mishandled tenants’ security deposits. The Alberta government’s recently released report on consumer protection violations over past the fiscal year highlights residential tenancy complaints in Fort McMurray, but other types of malfeasance were more prevalent province-wide.

In total, the courts called for restitution of nearly $1 million in response to 77 findings of unfair practices. Another $272,445 was levied in fines to individuals and businesses. This followed 618 investigations Alberta’s consumer investigation unit conducted over the course of the fiscal year.

“Our investigations create consumer confidence and that’s good for business as Alberta’s economy continues to look up,” says Stephanie McLean, Minister of Service Alberta.

Charges levied to Fort McMurray landlords include the first-ever conviction under provincial the Emergency Management Act for increasing a tenant’s rent during the rent freeze imposed in response to the wildfires that devastated the area in the spring of 2016. The penalty included a $2,000 fine with associated $300 victim surcharge or 19-day jail sentence.