The Alberta government’s use of the notwithstanding clause to prevent court challenges against its three laws affecting transgender people has garnered concern over the frequency of its use and undermining physician judgment.

On Tuesday the province invoked the notwithstanding clause for the second time in under a month. Premier Danielle Smith said this time it was necessary to prevent potential lengthy court delays and to protect children.

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“There’s certain decisions that only that child can make, I don’t believe that it’s right for anyone to make a decision to sterilize a child, except for that child, when they understand the consequences of it,” Smith said at a Monday press conference.

The three pieces of legislation the notwithstanding clause aims to shield were p

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