Monday, July 6, 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

Carbon price rebates rising in most provinces April 1

Carbon price rebates rising in most provinces April 1
The federal carbon price will increase April 1 to $85 per tonne, up from $60. British Columbia and Quebec are the only two provinces that do not use the federal carbon levy as they have their own equivalent systems.

Carbon price rebates rising in most provinces April 1

Veteran B.C. politician Mike de Jong to leave legislature, mulls federal run

Veteran B.C. politician Mike de Jong to leave legislature, mulls federal run
Veteran British Columbia politician Mike de Jong has announced he will leave the legislature after a 30-year career in government and opposition. De Jong, who was first elected as a B.C. Liberal in a Fraser Valley byelection in 1994, says the time has come to leave the provincial legislature, but it may not be the end of his days in politics.

Veteran B.C. politician Mike de Jong to leave legislature, mulls federal run

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Whistler, B.C., for Invictus Games training camp

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Whistler, B.C., for Invictus Games training camp
The purpose of this week's training camp is to support nations taking part in the Games to build year-round adaptive sports programs. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are scheduled to join the participants during some of the events at the camp today and Thursday in Whistler and on Friday in Vancouver.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Whistler, B.C., for Invictus Games training camp

Arrest of Surrey man in Winnipeg

Arrest of Surrey man in Winnipeg
Mounties in Surrey say a man wanted for nearly a year on kidnapping and other charges has been arrested in Winnipeg.  Surrey R-C-M-P say they had a warrant from February last year against 49-year-old Fabian Yul Brown, who was wanted for a number of charges including assault, unlawful confinement, uttering threats, break and enter, fraud and possession of stolen property.  

Arrest of Surrey man in Winnipeg

BC Real Estate Association numbers point to market 'uptrend' at beginning of 2024

BC Real Estate Association numbers point to market 'uptrend' at beginning of 2024
The BC Real Estate Association says there was a nearly 30 per cent increase in home sales last month compared with January 2023, while prices were also up.  The association says 3,979 sales were completed last month, for an average price of $957,909, a more than 10-per-cent jump from the year before.

BC Real Estate Association numbers point to market 'uptrend' at beginning of 2024

B.C. report says climate change brings health risk, as doctor fears 'colossal harms'

B.C. report says climate change brings health risk, as doctor fears 'colossal harms'
Communities across British Columbia needs to prepare for a climate-related health crisis like the deadly 2021 heat dome every year, according to the lead contributor to a report on health risks associated with climate change. Dr. Michael Schwandt, a medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, said the region needs to increase its resilience to extreme heat events, and risks "colossal harms" if it doesn't.

B.C. report says climate change brings health risk, as doctor fears 'colossal harms'