Alberta’s plan to invoke notwithstanding clause on transgender laws draws criticism

Alberta’s plan to use the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to shield laws affecting transgender young people from court challenges has sparked criticism and intensified a national debate about governments’ wielding of such power.

The laws, passed by the United Conservative Party government late last year, generally focus on people younger than 16 and ban transgender girls from female-only sports, prohibit gender-affirming health care and require parental consent at school to change a name or pronouns.