The Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) strongly condemns the Government of Alberta’s decision to mandate the removal of books deemed “sexually explicit” from school libraries, a move that disproportionately targets 2SLGBTQIA+ stories under the pretense of age-appropriate content regulation.
We echo the Alberta Teachers’ Association in noting that “the sweeping scope of this ministerial order will result in the removal of valuable and inclusive resources from libraries,” limiting students’ access to literature that reflects the diversity of their communities and experiences. The four titles cited as justification for this initiative—Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, Blankets by Craig Thompson, and Flamer by Mike Curato—all centre on queer narratives. Their removal stigmatizes 2SLGBTQIA+ identities and sends a harmful message that these stories are inappropriate or unwelcome in public education.
“By banning access to award-winning literature that affirms diverse identities, Alberta’s government is turning its back on the educational and social needs of some of its most vulnerable students,” said Alana Wilcox, ACP President. “Library collections aren’t vending machines—they are thoughtfully curated for building empathy, curiosity, and critical thinking.”
The new requirements place considerable additional responsibilities on educators without corresponding resources or funding. At a time when many Alberta schools are already facing staffing shortages—particularly the loss of trained teacher-librarians—this policy risks further straining the system and reducing access to valuable learning materials. Rather than safeguarding young readers, this order politicizes education, increases teacher workload, and narrows the scope of what students are allowed to read and imagine.
We call on the Alberta government to reverse this decision and to engage in meaningful consultation with stakeholders, including those from 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, to develop policies that reflect the diversity of Alberta’s students and the democratic values of Canadian society.
For more information, contact:
Jack Illingworth
Executive Director, ACP
jack_illingworth@canbook.org