Over $79-million in extra EI benefits were paid out in northern Ontario as part of the federal program designed to give extra financial help to out-of-work Canadians in the 15 hardest-hit economic regions.

There were over 22,000 claims in the north, not including the 4,300 claims in Sudbury.

Across Canada, officials say total payments in the program are double what Ottawa anticipated it would spend, blowing past Liberal budget estimates.

Payouts have surpassed a billion dollars.

(With files from The Canadian Press)

Filed under: ei-benefits, northern-ontario