Alberta has updated its regulations regarding books in schools to prohibit materials with explicit visual depictions of sexual acts, while allowing written descriptions of such content, as outlined in a recent ministerial order released on Monday. The previous directive, issued in July, had instructed school staff to remove library resources featuring sexual acts, including written passages.
In response, Edmonton Public Schools compiled a list of 226 books to be taken off shelves and classrooms, including popular titles like “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Color Purple,” “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” “The Godfather,” and “Jaws.” The backlash over the initial list prompted a review of the rules by Alberta Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, who emphasized the aim to restrict materials with explicit visual depictions of sexual activities.
The revised ministerial order now specifies “visual depiction” as the criterion for removal, encompassing drawings, paintings, illustrations, photographs, digital images, and video files. However, books containing non-sexual depictions of bodies, such as anatomy textbooks, are exempt from the ban.
Acknowledging the significance of student access to “classic literary works,” the new order eliminates age distinctions and disallows high school students from accessing non-explicit sexual content that ambiguously describes sexual acts. The government has extended the compliance deadline for all Alberta schools to January 5, 2026, from the original October 1 date, but mandates schools to submit a list of materials to be removed by the end of October.
While the government maintains oversight and guidance on the material removal process, it does not intend to disclose the list of banned books. Critics argue that the revised order still poses challenges and may necessitate further revisions. The Alberta Teachers’ Association president called for additional support for educators and stressed the importance of clarity in implementing the regulations.
Notably, the controversy surrounding the book ban has sparked debates on censorship and its impact on educational environments. Concerns have been raised about the order potentially affecting LGBTQ+ representation and creating confusion among students. Despite criticisms, the Education Minister defended the rules, emphasizing the need for transparency in school libraries while allowing parents to be informed about the literary content available to students.