WEBVTT

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Someone who is not a partner or

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relative is stalking you.

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Can the law help?

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Yes.

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Criminal harassment and a

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general peace bond do not

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require a family relationship.

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Provincial civil protection may

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also be available.

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These routes have different

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tests, so start with the

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conduct, the risk and your

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province.

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The criminal harassment law

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changed in July 2026.

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It addresses prohibited conduct

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without lawful authority, with

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intent to harass, or knowing or

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being reckless about whether it

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would harass another person.

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In the circumstances, the

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conduct must be something that

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could reasonably be expected to

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make them believe their safety,

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or the safety of someone known

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to them is threatened.

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Safety includes psychological

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safety.

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Imagine an acquaintance

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repeatedly follows your commute

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and uses accounts to monitor

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your movements.

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The current law expressly

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addresses monitoring location,

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movements, actions or social

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interactions, including through

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technology.

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Repeated following and repeated

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communication remain listed

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conduct.

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Watching places and threatening

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conduct are also covered.

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Do not assume every category

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needs the same number of

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incidents.

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Explain the whole pattern to

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police.

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A general peace bond is

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preventive.

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You must have reasonable

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grounds to fear personal injury

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to you, your intimate partner

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or child, property damage, or

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the intimate image offence

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specified in the code.

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A prior conviction is not

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required.

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If the court is satisfied, it

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may impose conditions for up to

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12 months.

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That is this general route, not

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the maximum for every kind of

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peace bond.

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The court can consider no

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contact and stay away terms,

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including indirect

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communication and appropriate

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weapons restrictions.

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Identify the places and people

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needing protection.

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Starting an application does

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not itself create those

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conditions.

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Ask about immediate safety

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arrangements while the case

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proceeds.

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A peace bond is not itself a

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criminal conviction, but

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breaching it can be a criminal

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offence.

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Civil options differ.

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Manitoba's stalking legislation

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can protect someone without a

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family relationship, if its own

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stalking, continued risk and

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urgency requirements are met.

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Quebec's civil protection

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procedure can address

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threatened life, health or

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safety, including harassment,

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without requiring a criminal

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offence.

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Some family law restraining

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orders have relationship

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qualifications.

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Do not choose a form just

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because its title sounds right.

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An ordinary civil injunction

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may be another option, but it

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needs a proper legal basis.

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For urgent relief, the evidence

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must satisfy the applicable

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court test.

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Asking someone to take positive

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action can require a stronger

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case.

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Ask a provincial lawyer about

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the claim, urgency, notice,

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costs and alternatives.

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Alleging a crime does not

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automatically establish a right

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to a civil injunction.

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If safe, keep original

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messages, account details,

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voicemails, and a factual log

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of dates, places, and conduct.

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Note witness details.

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Keep your police file number.

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Explain threats, monitoring,

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and any existing orders.

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Avoid meeting or confronting

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the person to obtain more

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evidence.

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Ask police or victim services

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for help with a safety plan and

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protecting your personal

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information.

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Get a copy of every order.

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Check when it binds the person,

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how notification happens, its

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exact terms and expiry.

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Report suspected breaches

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promptly and seek emergency

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help if danger is immediate.

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Enforcement and changes depend

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on the legal route.

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A private agreement does not by

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itself rewrite a court order,

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and the paperwork is only one

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part of a safety plan.

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For free general legal

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information, Legal Hotline's

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Canada number is on your screen

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now.

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Legal Hotline is not a law

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firm.

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Its information line uses AI.

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Lawyer matching is a separate

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service, subject to

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availability and acceptance.

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For advice on your own

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situation, speak with a lawyer

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in your province.

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In immediate danger, contact

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emergency services.