Alberta Premier Danielle Smith criticized the Edmonton Public School Board on Friday morning for its list of banned books, which comprises over 200 titles. The list, obtained by CBC News on Thursday, was compiled following a directive from the provincial government to identify inappropriate books and remove them from school libraries.
Included in the list are renowned titles such as “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Color Purple,” “The Godfather,” and “Jaws,” along with works by authors like George R. R. Martin, Sarah J. Maas, and Maya Angelou. Smith, speaking at an unrelated news conference, described Edmonton Public’s approach as overly compliant to the directive, emphasizing the aim to keep explicit content out of elementary schools.
The school board confirmed the accuracy of the list later on Friday, with board chair Julie Kusiek acknowledging concerns raised by the public regarding the library policy. Kusiek is set to engage directly with Smith to address compliance with the ministerial order.
Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides had previously announced forthcoming rules for school libraries after parental concerns were raised about certain graphic novels containing explicit content being available in Edmonton and Calgary public schools. The ministerial order signed by Nicolaides outlines standards for school library materials, prohibiting explicit sexual content while allowing exceptions for certain depictions in religious texts and non-explicit content.
PEN Canada President Ira Wells labeled the actions in Alberta as a form of book banning and literary censorship, emphasizing the need to address the situation seriously. Nicolaides expressed his intention to discuss the list with Edmonton Public Schools to gain clarity on the selection process and ensure age-appropriate provision of books containing sexual content.
Various school boards, including the Edmonton Catholic School Division and Fort McMurray Public Schools, are also reviewing their library collections to align with the ministerial order. The Calgary Board of Education is in the process of confirming details of its list and adjusting policies accordingly.
The Opposition NDP criticized the government for prioritizing book bans over addressing potential teacher strikes, as highlighted in a statement by education critic Amanda Chapman.