Many Calgarians demonstrated disappointment with the provincial government last Thursday, protesting the potential application of the notwithstanding clause on three bills at McDougall Centre.
Premier Danielle Smith invoked the notwithstanding clause for the second, third and fourth time in a month, stating in a press conference last week that the “stakes could not be any higher.”
“We’re keeping these decisions in the hands of those who are directly accountable to Albertans and ensuring that these protections can move forward without further court delay,” Smith said.
Bill 9, also known as the Protecting Alberta’s Children Statutes Amendment Act, was introduced to stop any legal or Charter challenges against:
- Bill 26, introduced in October 2024, bans gender-affirming care for transgender youth;
- Bill 27, introduced in December 2024, requires students under the age of 16 to receive parental consent to change their name or pronouns in school;
- Bill 29, introduced in September 2025, prevents transgender females from competing in women’s sports.
While Smith sees the introduction of Bill 9 as a form of protection for Alberta youth, some Calgarians disagree, rallying on Transgender Day of Remembrance in support of transgender youth and adults.
Rally organizer and transgender activist Victoria Bucholtz told the crowd that while routine would be to read the names of the transgender people who had passed and reflect, “Danielle Smith had other ideas for this day.”
“In the middle of Transgender Awareness Week, she gave us the notwithstanding clause and Bill 9. Then, she had the audacity to have her minister tell us that she’s on our side, watching over us and stands against anyone who attacks the transgender community.”
Bucholtz said that she has repeatedly told the media that for every one transgender person that may support the bill, she could find 1,000 that feel otherwise.
Sheri Wise, a supporter at the rally, is worried about government interference with transgender rights.
“I have a transgender family member, and I’m really concerned about their rights being impacted, but also the fact that the government appears to feel that they’re the experts instead of the medical experts and legal experts, and I’m just not willing to accept that,” Wise said.
While the notwithstanding clause was used to table Bill 9, the bill still has to pass through the house before being implemented.