Alberta government to try to prohibit COVID-19 mask mandates in schools, premier says

The Alberta government is moving to try to prohibit any COVID-19 mask mandates in schools, Premier Danielle Smith said Saturday morning.

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.

On Thursday, Court of King’s Bench Justice Grant Dunlop ruled that the order to lift school mask mandates last February was “unreasonable,” because it was based on