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It would be rather presumptuous of me, as a man, to opine on what the biggest women’s issue today in Alberta is.

It wouldn’t be a stretch, though, to point to the economy — or more specifically, the uncertainty plaguing the oil and gas industry — as perhaps the issue most top of mind among all Albertans.

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But just because we can rank issues based on urgency or importance, doesn’t mean the government can’t walk and chew gum at the same time. Dealing with something lower down the list does not necessarily preclude us or distract us from addressing those bigger issues.

Providing abortion clinics in Alberta with a “bubble zone” law to keep protesters 50 metres away — as Bill 9 proposes to do — is probably not the biggest issue facing the province right now. If it were, we’d have to wonder why the government has taken nearly three years to get around to addressing it.

And while one can certainly argue that Bill 9 is unnecessary, or that it goes too far in infringing on freedom of expression, it’s not out of bounds for the government to raise the issue. But rather than act as the official opposition, the United Conservative Party has instead chosen to flee in terror from this bill. It is a sad sight.