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Alberta government postpones release of revised school library book ban policy

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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, right, stands with new Minister of Education and Childcare, Demetrios Nicolaides, following a swearing in ceremony in Calgary, Friday, May 16, 2025.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

EDMONTON — The Alberta government says it has postponed the release of its revised school library book ban policy.

The government initially promised the new ministerial order this afternoon, but the province now says it will be released Monday.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says the government is "taking the time needed" to make sure the new ministerial order is clear.

The new version of the policy is set to come almost one week after the government directed school boards to pause their work in complying with the original ministerial order.

School boards were told to remove books containing what the province deemed sexually explicit content, including images, illustrations and written descriptions.

That led Edmonton Public Schools to compile a list of over 200 books it needed to remove, including several literary classics, which Premier Danielle Smith called "vicious compliance."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 5, 2025.

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press

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