Wednesday, July 8, 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

Vancouver passes motion to ask province to amend charter, remove elected Park Board

Vancouver passes motion to ask province to amend charter, remove elected Park Board
Vancouver's municipal council has passed a motion aimed at removing the city's elected Park Board. At a meeting last night, council passed a motion by Mayor Ken Sim to ask the province to amend the Vancouver Charter in order to abolish the Park Board.

Vancouver passes motion to ask province to amend charter, remove elected Park Board

Improved transit coming to 4 communities in a joint effort by the Province and the Feds

Improved transit coming to 4 communities in a joint effort by the Province and the Feds
B-C Transit and the federal and provincial governments have combined funding of just over 90-million dollars to improve transit infrastructure to four communities.  The announcement by federal Infrastructure Minister Sean Fraser, B-C’s Transport Minister Rob Fleming and B-C Transit’s C-E-O Erinn Pinkerton will allow for preliminary work for a proposed new transit centre in Saanich. 

Improved transit coming to 4 communities in a joint effort by the Province and the Feds

Bank robbery in East Vancouver

Bank robbery in East Vancouver
Vancouver police say a 61-year-old man with a gun was arrested by a dog team after he robbed a bank in East Vancouver. They say the man was treated for a minor dog bite yesterday.

Bank robbery in East Vancouver

Jewelry theft worth $20K in Langford

Jewelry theft worth $20K in Langford
Mounties have released a photo of a suspect who stole about 20-thousand-dollars worth of jewelry from a Langford store. West Shore R-C-M-P say a man tried on several necklaces at West Shore Jewelry on Saturday then took off without paying.

Jewelry theft worth $20K in Langford

B.C.'s chief coroner exits, frustrated and disappointed with government's OD response

B.C.'s chief coroner exits, frustrated and disappointed with government's OD response
British Columbia's chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says she's a hopeful person, but she is leaving her office frustrated and disappointed. Angry, even, with drug overdose deaths expected to hit record levels this year. The B.C. Coroners Service issued a public safety warning Wednesday, citing increases in overdose deaths "above earlier indications," when 189 deaths were reported in October.

B.C.'s chief coroner exits, frustrated and disappointed with government's OD response

Port Moody Police arrest vandal

Port Moody Police arrest vandal
Police have arrested a man who allegedly smashed several vehicle windows in the parking lot of Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody. Police say officers were called to the hospital on Monday just before 9 p-m after a man allegedly smashed the windows of vehicles parked in the lot, then threatened a security guard before fleeing.

Port Moody Police arrest vandal