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NDP legislation tabled Thursday forces protesters to stay at least 50 metres away from Alberta abortion clinics and prohibits them from taking unwanted photos or videos.

If approved, Bill 9 — called the Protecting Choice for Women Accessing Health Care Act — would bring Alberta in line with other provinces including British Columbia and Ontario.

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Women shouldn’t be subject to intimidation, harassment or bullying when they access legal health-care services, said Health Minister Sarah Hoffman at a news conference.

“I would like to have (the rules) in place as quickly as physically possible,” she said.

Two clinics that perform more than 75 per cent of the province’s abortions are protected under the legislation. They currently rely on court injunctions to prevent protesters from approaching patients or employees.

But Kim Cholewa, clinic manager at Woman’s Health Options in Edmonton, said court orders are largely ineffective. Police ask protesters to move along, only for them to return.