Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has directed officials to prepare legislation to invoke the Charter’s notwithstanding clause on gender laws for minors in the face of legal challenges by activists, according to a leaked government memo.
The province’s justice department has asked other departments to compile information on legal implications surrounding the matter and other options to consider, as per a directive from Smith’s office to invoke the notwithstanding clause.
“As you are aware, the premier’s office has directed that legislation be developed for the fall legislative session to amend the following pieces of legislation to permit each to operate notwithstanding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Alberta Bill of Rights,” Deputy Justice Minister Malcolm Lavoie said in the Sept. 10 memo obtained by The Canadian Press….