On September 19, a leaked provincial memo revealed that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has directed officials to use the notwithstanding clause to pass not one, not two, but THREE bills to override the Charter rights of Albertans. 

Smith claims to be a civil libertarian, but her actions reveal the truth.

Our governments have no place restricting access to healthcare based on religious or political beliefs, interfering in private family matters, or creating heavy-handed rules about amateur sports.

• Bill 26: restricts young Albertans’ access to gender-affirming (and often life-saving) treatment, violating the healthcare rights of gender-diverse youth
• Bill 27: restricts youth self-expression by requiring parental consent to use preferred names or pronouns at school
• Bill 29: restricts participation in female amateur sports by policing the bodies of all women and children, violating their privacy and dignity

These bills are a cheap attempt to score political points by attacking the rights of vulnerable minorities – rights that should be off limits. Real civil libertarians believe in freedom, and will fight to protect it – for everyone.

Governments across the country are using the notwithstanding clause as if it’s a hall pass to violate our rights. Well, we’re here to tell them: this ends now.

Recognizing that all our rights and freedoms are bound together by the guarantee of the Charter that Smith threatens, let’s act in solidarity with Albertans and let Premier Smith know that we’re not(with)standing for this assault on our rights.

Charter rights are ours to protect. 

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