Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has invoked the notwithstanding clause for three sweeping bills affecting transgender and gender-diverse youth that were passed last year in a bid to prevent courts from weighing in on the legislation.

The three pieces of legislation respectively limit gender-affirming treatment for transgender youth, ban transgender participation in womens’ and girls’ sports divisions, and require parental consent for name and pronoun changes in school while also requiring parents to opt their child into sexual education.

Three lawsuits challenging the bills are currently before Alberta courts and one of the laws was suspended earlier this year by a provincial judge.

Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery said at a Monday news conference at the Alberta Legislature that he believes invoking the notwithstanding clause will end the litigation process for all three lawsuits. He argued the clause has been used sparingly, citing the only two previous occasions it was invoked in Alberta: “I would argue that it’s not used frequently.”