A number of other legislative and regulatory amendments were also identified to improve Financial Benefit program service to applicants and streamline the program administrative processes. During the course of this program review, analysis of several of the Alberta Justice Summit recommendations respecting other services to victims indicated a need to expand the scope of the review. The proposed legislative and regulatory changes were deferred to accommodate this expanded scope . The legislation enables police to remove perpetrators of family violence from the home and ensures emergency protection orders are available on a 24-hour basis. Regulations were passed, training occurred and evaluators were contracted.
Interim evaluation is underway.
Emergency Protection Orders and Queen's Bench Protection Orders have been granted for claimants in various parts of the province. Terms of a protection order, which allow exclusive occupation of the family home, are not enforceable on reserves. Band by-laws are needed. The federal government has been informed of this. Serious and violent offenders will continue to be prosecuted through the formal court process.