Late last week, a compilation of more than 200 books slated for removal from Edmonton school libraries by October circulated online. This action was prompted by a directive issued by Alberta’s education ministry in July to eliminate books containing sexually explicit material from the shelves, affecting students from kindergarten to Grade 12. Among the titles on the removal list were acclaimed works such as Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” and Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World.”
The decision faced strong backlash from authors, educators, and civil rights organizations. Subsequently, on Tuesday, the Alberta government halted the removal order, announcing plans to revise it. Investigative Journalism Foundation’s Brett McKay has been following the controversy surrounding the removal of sexually explicit content from school libraries in Alberta. He will delve into the political motivations behind the move, the ensuing public outcry, and draw parallels to similar book-banning efforts in the United States.
