EDMONTON - The Alberta government moved to the final stage of debate early Wednesday on legislation that, if passed, would see the Charter’s notwithstanding clause invoked four times in less than two months.

A bill invoking the rights-override clause was introduced at 1:15 a.m. for third and final reading.

If the bill passes, Premier Danielle Smith’s government will have confirmed its intention to use it to shield from legal challenge each of three current laws affecting transgender people.

Debate moved quickly during the evening as Smith’s United Conservative caucus voted to allow only one hour to each of the final two stages of debate.

The three laws, introduced last year, police names and pronouns in school, ban transgender girls from participating in amateur female sports, and rest

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