Alberta's highly-controversial proof-of-vaccination system expires as the clock strikes midnight Wednesday, Premier Jason Kenney announced Tuesday amid accusations that he was playing politics with public health measures.

Rules that require students to wear masks in Alberta schools will end on Monday, and children under 12 won't have to wear masks anywhere starting then.

Kenney said his "careful and prudent" plan, which was approved by Alberta's COVID cabinet committee, lays out a path to "move on from a widespread pandemic response, to get our lives back to normal."

He also said restrictions have "inflamed" disputes amongst Albertans and "disrupted and even destroyed livelihoods."

"We'll never be able to do a full accounting of the extent of the pain and hardship that restrictions have caused," Kenney said.

https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/alberta-ditches-proof-of-vaccine-program-at-midnight-masking-for-students-monday-1.5772684