'Enhance educational choice': Alberta government bans school mask mandates, online-only instruction

In a bid to "protect and enhance educational choice," Alberta banned all K-12 school authorities and early childhood learning operators from implementing mask mandates and pivoting to online-only learning. On Thursday, the province passed two orders in council with immediate effect amending the Education Act to prevent any school or early learning operator from denying a child access to classes if they are not wearing a face mask or covering. In addition, any education program operator that move