Friday, March 13, 2026
ADVT 
National

Revised Alberta school book ban expected to be released today

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Sep, 2025 08:17 AM
  • Revised Alberta school book ban expected to be released today

The Alberta government is set to release its revised school library book ban today.

The government had promised an updated ministerial order Friday, but the announcement was rescheduled.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said in an email after the postponement that officials were taking the time needed to ensure a  revised order was clear for all school boards.

Boards originally had until the end of the month to remove books containing images, illustrations, audio and written passages with sexually explicit content.

Edmonton's public school board issued a list of 200 books that it would have to remove, including Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale," prompting widespread criticism and ire from Atwood herself. 

The government directed school boards last Tuesday to pause their work in complying with the initial order.

Premier Danielle Smith said the order would immediately be changed to only target books with images of sexual content, so literary classics could stay on school shelves.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Woman dies after being found unresponsive on Blackcomb Mountain in B.C.

Woman dies after being found unresponsive on Blackcomb Mountain in B.C.
A woman has died after being found unresponsive on a mountain at a British Columbia ski resort. Police say a person riding the gondola at Whistler Blackcomb spotted the woman on Blackcomb Mountain, and patrollers contacted police at about 10 a.m. on Thursday after locating her.

Woman dies after being found unresponsive on Blackcomb Mountain in B.C.

B.C.'s Kwantlen university to lay off 70 faculty due to $49 million revenue loss

B.C.'s Kwantlen university to lay off 70 faculty due to $49 million revenue loss
About 70 faculty members at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Metro Vancouver will receive lay-off notices Friday after a "sharp decline" in international students resulted in a revenue loss of about $49 million. Laurie Clancy, vice-president of human resources at the university, says the decision is "sad and unfortunate" because they have a wonderful faculty.

B.C.'s Kwantlen university to lay off 70 faculty due to $49 million revenue loss

Rare unanimous support for B.C. bill on perinatal, postnatal mental health care

Rare unanimous support for B.C. bill on perinatal, postnatal mental health care
The Opposition B.C. Conservatives say the proposal by caucus chair Jody Toor is the first private member’s bill to pass second reading with unanimous support in a recorded vote in 43 years.

Rare unanimous support for B.C. bill on perinatal, postnatal mental health care

Canadian officials say meeting with U.S. commerce secretary was constructive

Canadian officials say meeting with U.S. commerce secretary was constructive
Canadian officials said a Thursday meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was constructive and lowered temperatures amid the ongoing trade war launched by U.S. President Donald Trump last month — but they expected no immediate changes to punishing tariffs. 

Canadian officials say meeting with U.S. commerce secretary was constructive

Teen dies after car crashes into tree in Vancouver's Stanley Park

Teen dies after car crashes into tree in Vancouver's Stanley Park
Police in Vancouver say an 18-year-old man has died in an early morning car crash in Stanley Park. They say in a news release that the driver of a white BMW was travelling between Second and Third Beach in the park when he lost control and hit a tree just after 3 a.m.

Teen dies after car crashes into tree in Vancouver's Stanley Park

Here are the people making up Mark Carney's new Liberal cabinet

Here are the people making up Mark Carney's new Liberal cabinet
Prime Minister Mark Carney has named a 24-member cabinet, a team of ministers who will lead during the coming federal election campaign. Here's a list of ministers and their portfolios:

Here are the people making up Mark Carney's new Liberal cabinet