The Alberta government hit pause on its order for the removal of books with explicit sexual content from libraries, but the premier says the pause will be short lived.
The policy from Alberta’s education minister outlining new rules governing books in school libraries was set to come into effect Oct. 1. The pause is outlined in an email from the minister sent to school boards on Tuesday.
“Until further notice, please pause all implementation efforts outlined in Ministerial Order (#30/2025), including removing materials containing depictions of explicit sexual content from school libraries,” reads the email sent on behalf of Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides.
“At this time, I ask that school authorities also pause the development and distribution of lists of school library materials.”
The email does not state the reason for the pause but says more information will be provided as soon as possible.
However, speaking at an unrelated news conference on Tuesday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the pause won’t last long.
“It’ll be paused for a couple of hours while the ministerial order is rewritten. The direction will be to take books with pornographic images out of the libraries and to leave the classics alone. I think that there was some misunderstanding of the order, so it’s being made clear.”
Smith said school boards can expect a new ministerial order.
“We are hoping that the school boards understand what we’re trying to achieve.”
Smith was more blunt in a subsequent post on X, formerely Twitter.
“I’m going to be more explicit than usual so there is no misunderstanding this policy: 1. Get graphic pornographic images out of school libraries. 2. Leave the classics on the shelves,” she wrote.
“3. We all know the difference between the items in 1 and 2. Let’s not play any more games in implementing this policy for our kids.”
An internally distributed list obtained by CBC News showed more than 200 books deemed sexually explicit were slated for removal from Edmonton Public Schools library shelves for students in kindergarten to Grade 12.
The list, which included titles like The Handmaid’s Tale, Brave New World and Jaws attracted the attention of Canadian author Margaret Atwood.
Smith slammed the Edmonton school board for its list on Friday stating, “Edmonton public is clearly doing a little vicious compliance over what the direction is.”
The minister’s office declined a request for an interview from CBC News.
Nicolaides announced in the spring that new rules would be coming to school libraries, after parents raised concerns to the government about four coming-of-age graphic novels found in circulation in Edmonton and Calgary public schools.
The minister signed a ministerial order, dated July 4, laying out the standards for school library materials and included definitions.
Nicolaides has previously said the policy was not about banning books, but putting rules in place for schools that lack standards for age-appropriate material.
Under the order, schools were also tasked with implementing clear policies by the new year on how the directive would be maintained.
The rules, as outlined in Nicolaides’ ministerial order, ban books with explicit sexual content for students in all grades. Those in Grade 10 and over would have access to books containing what the province deems to be non-explicit sexual content.
Other school divisions across the province were expected to come up with lists, though two divisions confirmed Tuesday that they had stopped all work on complying with the order in line with the government’s pause.
