Protection Against Family Violence Act
Family violence has devastating consequences on families and communities throughout the province. In order to end this cycle of abusive behaviour, the Government of Alberta has made preventing family violence one of its top priorities.
As part of its response, Alberta introduced new legislation to protect even more people from family violence.
Amendments that were made to the act in 2006, include:
- adding stalking to the definition of family violence;
- protecting vulnerable people, such as seniors or individuals with disabilities, who are being abused by a family member who does not live with them;
- clarifying the use of emergency protection orders and allow them to be granted even if the offenders say they did not mean to hurt anyone; and
- requiring only one parent/guardian to give consent for a child to receive counselling.
If you are in a family violence emergency, call 911 or contact your local police, RCMP or tribal police.
Information sheets:
