National

Alberta government pauses ban on school library books with sex content

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Sep, 2025 12:25 PM

Alberta's education minister is directing school boards to pause a government order to remove books with explicit sexual content from libraries.

Demetrios Nicolaides says in an email to school divisions and officials that they should pause any development or distribution of lists of books that are to be removed.

He says the pause is in effect until further notice.

A draft list from Edmonton Public Schools of books to be removed from libraries was leaked online last week.

It contains more than 200 titles, including Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," which prompted the author to condemn Premier Danielle Smith online over the weekend.

Smith has said the Edmonton school division was too heavy handed in crafting its list and criticized it for not following the government's intention with the policy.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Six migrants found crossing border on foot in freezing temperatures: Manitoba RCMP

Mounties in Manitoba say six people from multiple countries were caught last week trying to illegally cross into Canada from the United States. Police say the group was spotted from the air crossing the border on foot near Emerson on Jan. 14.

Six migrants found crossing border on foot in freezing temperatures: Manitoba RCMP

Vancouver mayor proposes pause on new supportive housing in Downtown Eastside

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has unveiled a plan to revitalize the city's troubled Downtown Eastside, including pausing the construction of net new supportive housing units. Sim told a Save Our Streets forum, held by a coalition of groups concerned about crime and public safety in B.C., that the proposal is one of three key policy shifts being planned to transform the Downtown Eastside.

Vancouver mayor proposes pause on new supportive housing in Downtown Eastside

U.S. tariff threat adds urgency for B.C.'s energy independence: minister

British Columbia Energy Minister Adrian Dix says the looming threat of American tariffs raises the stakes for boosting the province's energy independence. Dix says there was urgency before the U.S. election last November, but "there's more now" as American President Donald Trump threatens to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods.

U.S. tariff threat adds urgency for B.C.'s energy independence: minister

Victoria garbage truck driver delivers fire to fire department

The driver of a garbage truck in Victoria is being hailed for his quick thinking when he saw smoke coming from the back compartment. The Victoria Firefighters Association posted its praise on social media saying the driver called 911 when he saw the smoke — then drove straight to the firehall.

Victoria garbage truck driver delivers fire to fire department

Joly off to Washington to talk tariffs with Rubio as Trump floats 5% target for NATO

Trump is threatening to impose 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on imports from Canada starting on Feb. 1 though Joly says things are still in transition while Trump hasn't yet confirmed a commerce secretary.

Joly off to Washington to talk tariffs with Rubio as Trump floats 5% target for NATO

Freeland says she's abandoning capital gains tax change because of Trump

Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland says her promise to repeal changes to the capital gains tax was made in response to Donald Trump's election in the United States. Freeland is running to be the next leader of the Liberal party and the next prime minister.