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Investigative Journalism Foundation
Education

Alberta used lists of America’s most banned books and a controversial database to identify ‘inappropriate’ material in schools

Internal emails show how education ministry staff compiled pages of book titles that could be restricted through new content guidelines.

Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

11 Jul 2025 • 5 min read

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A man in a suit stands in front of three Alberta flags and one Canadian flag.
Alberta’s Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides gave an update on the government's new school library standards at a press conference on July 10. (Government of Alberta)

Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Brett McKay is an Edmonton-based reporter specializing in investigative and data-driven stories. His work has appeared in The Tyee, APTN, The Breach, CTV News and Great West Media.

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