This is a part of an Alberta Government pamphlet, Protection Against Family Violence Act in Plain Language, published in June 1999. It gives general information about the Act. You can talk to someone in an immigrant serving agency or a family violence organization to help you understand your options.

The Protection Against Family Violence Act is a law that protects all family members from family violence. If someone is abused or knows someone else who is abused, this law can help.

The act defines family violence as:

• Injuring or threatening to injure a family member
• Damaging or threatening to damage property in order to intimidate or harm a family member
• Not allowing a family member to leave the home
• Abusing someone sexually
• Stalking someone

The act provides the following protections:

The police can, if authorized, also take away guns, knives, and other weapons.

This order can say the abusive family member

• must leave the home,
• cannot contact other family members,
• cannot go near their home, workplace or school, and
• must receive counselling.

He or she can be ordered to pay some costs or temporarily give some items to the abused family member.

Police can, if authorized, take away weapons.