Alberta Premier Danielle Smith won’t permit further masking of children in grades K-12.
“The detrimental effects of masking on the mental health, development and education of children in classroom settings is well understood, and we must turn the page on what has been an extremely difficult time for children, along with their parents and teachers,” she said in a statement over the weekend.
The new premier’s comments come after an Alberta judge on Thursday ruled that a February order lifting masking requirements in schools was “unreasonable” because it was made by cabinet, not the chief medical officer of health.
But Smith further said she has directed Alberta Justice Minister Tyler Shandro to examine whether to appeal.
“I have directed our Justice minister to assess whether an appeal of Thursday’s Kings Bench Court decision is appropriate, and have instructed our government’s ministers of Justice, Health and Education to alert me to any legislative or regulatory changes that may be necessary to reaffirm or clarify our government’s full authority with respect to this and other health and education matters,” she said.
Smith campaigned for the United Conservative Party leadership by taking a critical stance on Jason Kenney’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the government was misled by Alberta Health Services and has promised to replace top leadership in the department.
In the month since she’s become premier, Smith has apologized to the unvaccinated and opened the door to giving back pay to the province’s unvaccinated workers, who were laid off when a vaccine mandate was implemented.
She’s also urged Alberta businesses to drop their vaccine mandates ahead of a promise to amend the Alberta Human Rights Act to end discrimination on the basis of vaccine status.
As premier, Smith denounced the WEF and unveiled a plan for her government to push Ottawa back and enforce provincial autonomy.
