CCLA Sounds the Alarm Over Government of Alberta’s Dangerous Censorship Agenda

TORONTO – The CCLA is sounding the alarm over the Government of Alberta’s push to restrict access to books in school libraries, raising concerns that celebrated works like The Handmaid’s Tale could soon be banned.

Following the Government of Alberta’s directive to restrict access to certain educational materials, the Edmonton Public School Board has identified over 200 books, including The Handmaid’s Tale that are slated to be removed from school libraries.

“The banning of books is a hallmark of censorship, not democracy,” said Howard Sapers, Executive Director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.

“By targeting works like The Handmaid’s Tale, the government is not protecting students. Rather, it is depriving them of the opportunity to learn, think critically, and engage with literature that reflects important social and political realities.”

Schools should empower students to be informed and critical thinkers, not shield them from reality. Works like The Handmaid’s Tale have long been taught in schools across Canada as powerful tools for discussing human rights, democracy, and equality. Removing them from school libraries sends a chilling message to educators and students alike.

Banning books that confront issues of gender and sexuality silences marginalized voices and erases important stories that help students understand the world around them. Our school libraries must remain places where diverse voices are heard and respected, not silenced.

CCLA urges the Alberta government to immediately reverse this harmful decision which would result in the removal of essential education materials in the provinces school libraries.

We call on community members, librarians, educators, and students to speak out against this alarming act of censorship and to stand up for the fundamental freedoms that are essential to a healthy democracy.