Alberta’s New Government & What It Means For The Legal System and All Albertans

Peace Bonds usually come into play when there have been charges in a domestic setting. Well under section 810 of the Criminal Code of Canada. But what does that mean? Let’s take a look at Section 810 to start. S. 810 (1) An information may be laid before a justice by or on behalf of any person who fears on reasonable grounds that another person (a) will cause personal injury to them or to their intimate partner or child or will damage their property; or (b) will commit an offence under section 162.1. In these situations, a person can obtain a peace bond against the defendant from the Court. The Court may impose specific conditions that are designed to prevent the defendant from committing harm to the person, their spouse or common-law partner, their child, or from committing damage to their property. So the courts have granted a Peace Bond, What would you be looking at to undergo the fulfillment of the conditions? What kind of conditions would I have? The defendant may agree or the Court can order the defendant to: keep the peace and be of good behaviour; not contact the person, their spouse, or child; not visit the person, their spouse, or child; not call the person on the phone; not write letters or send text messages; abstain from using non-prescription drugs or alcohol, and be required to provide bodily samples to ensure compliance; be forbidden from owning weapons; pay, or promise to pay, a refundable surety (cash bond) to the Court, which may be forfeited if the defendant subsequently breaches any conditions of the peace bond; or any other condition the Court considers desirable to prevent the harm.

“The Justice Statutes Amendment Act (formerly Bill 5) strengthens our justice system by taking steps to simplify legal and court processes for Albertans and improve security at the Alberta legislature. The act amends 6 acts to make it easier to collect child support, increase the civil claims limit, clarify referendum rules, eliminate unnecessary record-keeping requirements, and support the transfer of trusts. Changes also allow legislative security to carry firearms. This was recommended by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and Sergeant-At-Arms following incidents on Parliament Hill in 2014 and at the Alberta legislature in 2019. These changes reduce red tape, increase access to the justice system, and ensure the legislature building and grounds remain a safe and secure setting.”