Lisa Johnson

The Alberta government introduced legislation Thursday to ensure children won’t be able to access sexually graphic images in books at public libraries.

Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams stressed at a news conference that the government isn’t banning books. He held up a page of a graphic novel with a sexually explicit example of the images they seek to restrict.

“We will require that they are put behind a counter in a place that children cannot find them while wandering these libraries,” Williams said after tabling the bill.

“When a family walks into a public library, they should feel confident that appropriate safeguards are in place, that their children will feel comfortable there.”

He said pornographic material paid for by the taxpayer shouldn’t be accessible to children.

“It’s a reasonable expectation to balance the needs of the family along with the ability for libraries to continue offering services.”

The proposed legislation looks at steps to make sure children ages 15 and under can’t access visual depictions of sex. Options, in regulations that could come later this spring, include having such material controlled by library staff or put in separate areas.

Williams said stand-alone public libraries are often used for education by young families, so the changes wouldn’t be limited only to public libraries co-located in schools. 

He said he trusts librarians but also pointed to the importance of “parental authority.”

“Any parent that wants kids to have access to any material in the library, they can grant that authority to their children. It’s not my job to get in the way of that.”

The bill would also give Williams the power to initiate reviews or respond to complaints related to public libraries.

He said he’s not aware of anyone suggesting that intellectual freedom protects kids’ access to pornography.

“This is not a question of freedom of expression or censorship. This kind of material can be very damaging to young children that see it as a cartoon.”

The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries said in a statement that the changes would affect 324 public library points across the province serving 99 per cent of Albertans.

“CAP Libraries has been engaged in conversations regarding intellectual freedom with the ministry of municipal affairs and provincial representatives since fall 2025, but were not consulted on the changes announced today,” it said.

The coalition said polling suggests public libraries are among the province’s most trusted and widely used institutions, with 82 per cent of respondents saying they trust their local public library to make appropriate decisions about available materials. 

Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party government previously made rule changes to ban graphic sexual material in school libraries, resulting in dozens of books being pulled from shelves.

Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi mocked Williams’ bill.

“This government with its $9.4-billion deficit, its inability to spend any money correctly, is now building a team of library inspectors,” Nenshi told reporters at the legislature.

“Can you imagine? What do they wear? What are their uniforms? Do they read every book? Are they librarians?

“This is insanity, and it’s taking away the ability of people to make their own decisions.

“This government doesn’t believe in human rights,” he added. “It believes in dictating what people read, what people see, what people think.”

Nenshi said while parents should have a say in what kids are signing out, librarians are professionals.

“They know what they’re doing. They’re ensuring that kids are signing out age appropriate material.” 

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas told reporters the city is reviewing the bill and its possible effects.

“My understanding is the intent, at least from the various conversations I’ve had with ministers as well as public statements, was this was not intended to capture stand-alone libraries and that municipal autonomy would be respected.”

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack said in a statement he’s still reviewing the bill, but praised the work of the Edmonton Public Library to ensure everyone has access to information.

“They set a gold standard for inclusivity and accessibility and are developed as professional environments, allowing parents to monitor their children’s activities, including what they borrow and view,” he wrote.

The bill includes more than library changes.

It proposes the creation of a provincewide councillor accountability framework with enforceable standards of conduct and third-party investigations for serious misconduct.

It includes measures to: fast track the approval of housing builds, prohibit higher property taxes on homes that are vacant for most of the year, and allow publicly funded charter schools to access municipal and school reserve land.

Municipalities would also have to publicly disclose salaries above a specified threshold. 

Farkas said he’s happy to endorse the bill, especially on accountability measures and code of conduct.

Williams’ predecessor in municipal affairs, Ric McIver, broached the plan to overhaul council oversight last spring when he introduced legislation that repealed local codes of conduct.

McIver also introduced a series of reforms affecting municipal governance, including giving the province the power to overturn local bylaws.

Nenshi said the UCP’s constant tinkering with the law governing municipalities doesn’t show respect or allow municipal officials to do their jobs.

“It costs so much money, so much time and so much effort for municipal officials just to keep up with the forever changing rules.”

When asked if he believes cities should operate at the behest of the province, Williams said municipalities have autonomy, but ultimately it’s the province’s responsibility to oversee them.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 2, 2026.

— With files from Bill Graveland in Calgary

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