Alberta Premier Danielle Smith plans to make sure no schools introduce COVID-19 mask mandates.
In a statement sent to news media Saturday, Smith alleged that the mental health, development and education of students, from kindergarten to Grade 12, have suffered because of wearing masks in class.
“We must turn the page on what has been an extremely difficult time for children, along with their parents and teachers,” Smith said.
Earlier this week, the Alberta Court of King’s Bench ruled that the government’s decision to block school boards from imposing their own mask mandates after provincial ones were dropped “was made for improper purposes.”
On Saturday, the premier said she has directed Justice Minister Tyler Shandro to examine whether an appeal of the decision would be appropriate.
“(I) 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,” said Smith.
“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.”
