On Monday Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said a province wide “consistent standards” to ensure the “age-appropriateness” of materials available to students in school libraries will be implemented by September. The rules will apply to public, separate, francophone, charter and independent schools, but not to public libraries.

Trustees from Edmonton Public Schools (EPSB) Board and the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) said they were surprised by the announcement. Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association and Mandy Lamoureaux, president of CUPE Local 3550 both expressed concern with the announcement.