[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Josephus]

Tim Hortons

Around these parts used to be Filipinos. Not sure where they went. PR now?

Speaking of.....Filipinos do a lot of child care and PSW work.

My parents, before they died, both had Filipino care givers.

As far as the Aussies....I find that's predominately a "west" thing (probably cause the West is a lot more outdoorsy). I met a bunch of Aussie workers at Banff last summer.

[crazy canuck]

Right, I forgot about care homes. that is also predominantly foreign workers for the staff at those facilities.

[viper37]

Handmaid's tale removed from Edmonton public library

Ah, Alberta.  The Bible remains though.  So it can't really be about sex...

[Josquius]

That's basically like Britain banning Shakespeare or France banning Hugo right.

[Tonitrus]

Perhaps more like "Lincolnshire banning...", since this is just Alberta.

[saskganesh]

Hi. They are trying to say it is not a ban, because it's "guidelines".

Smith has backtracked, blaming overzealous execution, and says her government, going forward, will rigorously collaborate with school boards to make appropriate decisions. blah blah.

The list includes Orwell and Huxley. Atwood already cited.

I am thrilled Joe Abercrombie (First Law) gets to be counted among them.

[Neil]

If it makes you feel better, this is a bit of a sham.  The Edmonton Public School Board made up a deliberately overbroad list in response to the provincial government's guidelines, which were aimed at removing some genuinely inappropriate works that were found in some of the libraries.  The idea is that by banning the Hunger Games, they'll get the province to drop the entire idea.  Malicious compliance. 

Smith likely won't back down, but the government will have to spend some time giving orders to the school boards about getting rid of the porny graphic novels and not YA sci-fi.

[crazy canuck]

Do you have some examples of books that  are currently in school libraries thatyou think should be pulled?

And explain how they went overboard? Are people not supposed to take the Ministerial Order seriously or was the Order the sham?

[Neil]

'Flamer' was probably inappropriate at an elementary level. 

The Ministerial Order is open to interpretation in the form of the word 'detailed', and Edmonton Public chose to interpret it in a way that would cause them to remove large swathes of books from their shelves.  It's simple malicious compliance on their part. 

The real problem with the order is that they want the school libraries to create publicly searchable book lists, but they're not going to provide any resources to accomplish this. 

[crazy canuck]

'Flamer' was probably inappropriate at an elementary level. 

The Ministerial Order is open to interpretation in the form of the word 'detailed', and Edmonton Public chose to interpret it in a way that would cause them to remove large swathes of books from their shelves.  It's simple malicious compliance on their part. 

The real problem with the order is that they want the school libraries to create publicly searchable book lists, but they're not going to provide any resources to accomplish this. 

I don't think that the problem is with the word "detailed". The problem is with the clauses which describe examples of explicit sexual content, and if you have read 1984, a handmaid's tale or Brave New World, you will know those books are caught by that definition.

The school board isn't the one being malicious here.  The government claiming their definition is not overly broad is playing a game here.  One you are falling for.

And that is not even considering the open ended definition of non explicit sexual depictions, which are also banned.

Here is the link to the order so you and others can read what religious authoritarian legislation looks like.

https://kings-printer.alberta.ca/Documents/MinOrders/2025/Education_and_Childcare/2025_030_Education_and_Childcare.html

[crazy canuck]

The Alberta government has backed down and says it is re-writing the ministerial order so that only materials containing pornographic images will be banned.

There are no books in school libraries containing pornographic images.

[saskganesh]

Thanks for your explanation and insight Neil but I think that at the end of the day, most conservative supporters in Alberta really don't give a shit, and will make peace with whatever that government wants to do. The brand loyalty is just too strong.

[Neil]

Thanks for your explanation and insight Neil but I think that at the end of the day, most conservative supporters in Alberta really don't give a shit, and will make peace with whatever that government wants to do. The brand loyalty is just too strong.

I think that a lot of Conservative supporters did agree with the government's stated intent, especially since the government did a good job of making a few somewhat explicit homosexual graphic novels that were found in a K-9 school the media face of the issue.  But Edmonton Public School Division's deliberately faulty interpretation of the order was far more mixed in reception.  There were people who thought that the government was backing down and that they were selling kids out.  There were people who took a more nuanced view.  And then there are a few people who don't really think much of reading anyways. 

I don't think that identification with the government is as strong as you do.  Smith definitely doesn't feel all that secure, as she's worried about centrists moving towards Nenshi, but also has to be concerned about the loons forming another Wildrose party if they get disgruntled.  The noise about Alberta Republicans (the most cringe-worthy name imaginable for a Canadian political party) forced her to spend political capital on this embarrassing Alberta Next initiative. 

[viper37]

a few somewhat explicit homosexual graphic novels that were found in a K-9 school

I'm sorry, I don't believe this.

We had graphic novels with nudity back in our private catholic high school, but I doubt any elementary school would allow something "explicit".  If the issues is that it's homosexual rather than heterosexual, than I really don't see the issue...

[crazy canuck]

a few somewhat explicit homosexual graphic novels that were found in a K-9 school

I'm sorry, I don't believe this.

We had graphic novels with nudity back in our private catholic high school, but I doubt any elementary school would allow something "explicit".  If the issues is that it's homosexual rather than heterosexual, than I really don't see the issue...

He is referring to a four books that were cited as the reason for the ban when it was first announced.

At least one, Gender Queer, received international praise and awards

This is about religious beliefs being enforced by the state against homosexuality.  The government was embarrassed that their definition of what should be banned was overly broad.  And very poorly drafted.