Protection Against Family Violence Act

Family violence has devastating consequences for families and communities throughout the province. In order to help end this cycle of abusive behaviour, the Alberta government continues to make preventing family violence one of its top priorities.

As part of Alberta's work on this important issue, the Protection Against Family Violence Act (PAFVA) was introduced in 1999 to help protect all family members who are affected by family violence. 

The act was amended in 2006 and again in 2011, to further strengthen the legislation and provide better protection for victims.  Changes made to PAFVA 2006 and 2011 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 allowing them to be granted even if the offenders say they did not mean to hurt anyone; 
  • requiring only one parent/guardian to give consent for a child to receive counselling; and
  • adding an offence and penalty section that provides for mandatory minimum penalties for failing to follow emergency protection orders and Queen's Bench Protection Order

If you are in a family violence emergency, call 911 or contact your local police, RCMP or tribal police.

Resources

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Legislation - Act and Regulations | Queen's Printer website