EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government moved one step closer late Tuesday night to passing legislation invoking the Charter’s notwithstanding clause for a fourth time in this sitting.

A bill invoking the rights-override clause was introduced after 10 p.m. for the first of two final stages of debate.

If the bill passes, Premier Danielle Smith’s government will have confirmed its use to shield from legal challenge three existing laws already on the books affecting transgender people.

Debate was expected to move quickly as Smith’s United Conservative caucus had already voted to mandate that debate on each of the final two stages would be limited to one hour each.

The three laws, introduced last year, police names and pronouns in school, ban transgender girls from participa

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