Alberta’s Book Ban Backlash and Policy Pause
Description
Alberta’s government ordered schools to pull books with “explicit sexual content” from libraries. However, when the Edmonton Public School Board flagged over 200 titles, including classics like 1984, The Handmaid’s Tale, and The Great Gatsby, the backlash was immediate.
Authors, educators, and civil liberties groups condemned the move, with Margaret Atwood’s sharp criticism drawing global attention. Facing mounting outrage, Premier Danielle Smith and Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides paused the policy and promised revisions to target only books with graphic images.
This podcast unpacks how a push by “parents’ rights” groups set off a culture war in Alberta classrooms, why critics call it an attack on LGBTQ+ youth and free expression, and what the government’s retreat means for the future of Canadian schools.
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