Alberta government pauses ban on school library books with sexual content

The Alberta government is hitting pause on its order for the removal of books with explicit sexual content from libraries.

The policy from Alberta’s education minister outlining new rules governing books in school libraries was set to come into effect Oct. 1. The change is outlined in an email from the minister sent to school boards on Tuesday.

“Until further notice, please pause all implementation efforts outlined in Ministerial Order (#30/2025), including removing materials containing depictions of explicit sexual content from school libraries,” reads the email sent on behalf of Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides.

“At this time, I ask that school authorities also pause the development and distribution of lists of school library materials.”

The email does not state the reason for the pause but says more information will be provided as soon as possible.

An internally distributed list obtained by CBC News showed more than 200 books deemed sexually explicit were slated for removal from Edmonton Public Schools library shelves for students in kindergarten to Grade 12.

The list, which included titles like The Handmaid’s Tale, Brave New World and Jaws attracted the attention of Canadian author Margaret Atwood.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith slammed the Edmonton school board for its list on Friday stating, “Edmonton public is clearly doing a little vicious compliance over what the direction is.”

Edmonton AMRemoving books from school libraries

Alberta Education says schools must remove some books from library shelves by Oct. 1. The new guidelines announced Thursday tell school divisions they can no longer stock what the province deems sexually explicit books. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says it is not a book ban. Jason Schilling is the president of the Alberta Teacher’s Association.

Nicolaides announced in the spring that new rules would be coming to school libraries, after parents raised concerns to the government about four coming-of-age graphic novels found in circulation in Edmonton and Calgary public schools.

The minister signed a ministerial order, dated July 4, laying out the standards for school library materials and included definitions.

Nicolaides has previously said the policy was not about banning books, but putting rules in place for schools that lack standards for age-appropriate material.