In Alberta (and the rest of Canada), you will sometimes have to pay money before you can be released on bail (“cash bail”), but not always. This is up to the court and will depend on your circumstances. Your bail release can instead be based on a “promise to pay,” which means that you or another person promises to pay a certain amount of money if you do not attend your scheduled court date or breach a bail condition. In some cases, you can be released on bail without having to pay or promise to pay any money (“no financial obligation”).
Regardless of whether you are released on cash bail, a promise to pay, or with no financial obligation, your bail release will come with certain conditions. Breaching your bail conditions is a separate criminal offence. I discuss bail and release conditions in other FAQs.