Under the proposed legislation in Bill 28, materials deemed to contain visual depictions of sexual activity could be removed from general circulation and placed behind counters or in restricted areas, limiting access for those aged 15 and under. While presented as a safeguard, this approach introduces vague and subjective criteria that place an unnecessary administrative burden on library systems and staff, while restricting access to legitimate works of literature.
At a news conference, Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams said: “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 […] It’s a reasonable expectation to balance the needs of the family along with the ability for libraries to continue offering services”.
This is not the first time the Alberta government has introduced measures restricting access to books. In 2025, it announced a review of “age-inappropriate” materials in school libraries. At the time, freedom of expression advocates raised concerns that the initiative appeared to disproportionately target 2SLGBTQIA+ stories, casting doubt on the policy’s underlying intent. The government subsequently issued a mandate to remove books deemed “sexually explicit” and sexual visual depictions from school libraries. Once again, critics argued that the measure disproportionately affected 2SLGBTQIA+ content under the pretext of regulating age-appropriate materials.
Alana Wilcox, President of the Association of Canadian Publishers, said: “We are concerned to see yet another legislative effort in Alberta that limits access to information and interferes with the work of librarians. Public libraries are vital spaces for learning and exploration, and their collections should be shaped by professional expertise, not broad and overreaching legislation.”
IPA supports ACP, CPC, and LPG’s call on the Government of Alberta to: (i) withdraw the legislation; (ii) engage in meaningful consultation with public library systems, librarians, educators, and community stakeholders; and (iii) respect the principles of intellectual freedom, professional expertise, and equitable access that underpin public libraries. Restrictions on library materials ultimately constrain access to knowledge, sideline important perspectives, and weaken confidence in the institutions and professionals that support informed, engaged communities.