Attorney-General of Alberta v Attorney-General of Canada and Others In order to alleviate the distress of farmers and others, caused by a great drought, the Legislature of Alberta passed the Debt Adjustment Act 1937. The purpose of the Act was to relieve persons resident in the province from enforceable liabilities to pay debts incurred before 1 July 1936 and in many cases to compel the creditors to accept compositions approved by a board set up by the Act.