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AFL joins parents of students in court challenge to stop the lifting of mask mandates in Alberta schools – AFL

The order to end school masking is premature and reckless

EDMONTON – The Alberta Federation of Labour, Alberta’s largest worker advocacy organization, has joined a group of parents of students with disabilities in filing an application for a court injunction to stop the implementation of the order to remove the province-wide mask mandate in Alberta schools.

The application was filed late yesterday afternoon by lawyers from Roberts O’Kelly Law, on behalf of the AFL and the group of parents.

The application also challenges the de facto prohibition issued by Education Minster Adrianna La Grange that attempts to prevent school boards from reinstating or continuing their own mask mandates.

“The decision by the government and the related order by Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, was premature, reckless and irresponsible,” says Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan.

“By lifting the province-wide mandate at the height of the fifth wave of the pandemic, the government and the Chief Medical Officer of Health are putting the health and safety of thousands of workers and hundreds of thousands of students at risk.”

If the court agrees to hear the case, the applicants will bring evidence showing that the decision to lift the mask mandate was premature and not based on science. They will also argue that the decision was based on narrow political concerns, not a careful consideration of the public interest.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Ramona Franson
Director of Communications, AFL
rfranson@afl.org