The Alberta government has revised its controversial school library book ban, which had drawn significant criticism. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced the changes, stating that the new order will allow written depictions of explicit sexual content in school libraries while still banning graphic visual representations of sexual acts.

The revised policy eliminates previous restrictions on age groups and age-appropriate screening for written content. “Novels, poetry, and classical literature works containing written explicit content can remain in schools,” Nicolaides said. The government aims to ensure that classic literary works are accessible to students while preventing explicit visual materials from being available to children.

The decision comes after the initial ban faced backlash, including international criticism. Critics pointed out that notable literary works, such as Margaret Atwood’s "The Handmaid’s Tale," could have been banned under the original order. Nicolaides was asked if the negative attention influenced the government's decision to revise the policy. He denied that international scorn played a role, insisting it was merely a misunderstanding of the government's intentions.

Despite the changes, the government maintains that the core goal remains to restrict highly explicit visual images found in some graphic novels. Nicolaides emphasized the need for clarity in the revised order, stating, “Unfortunately, we have to provide even more clarity.”

The announcement coincided with World Literacy Day, although the government did not acknowledge the significance of the date. The initial order had subjected Alberta to reputational damage, prompting questions about whether the government would admit to any mistakes. Nicolaides firmly stated that the government would not concede to having made an error.

The handling of the announcement has also raised eyebrows. Typically, officials brief reporters under embargo before a public news conference. However, Nicolaides spoke during a telephone conference, which limited the availability of video footage of his remarks. This approach has been criticized as an unusual method of communication regarding such a contentious issue.