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 When the Alberta chapter of the
Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE) released their 1947 report Welfare in Alberta, an
exploration of the status of social welfare in Alberta, the result was both
shocking and unexpected.
Welfare in Alberta, compiled by renowned Ottawa social
worker Dr. Charlotte Whitton, offered a meticulously researched and stark
look at Alberta’s social system, resulting in a very public acknowledgement
of a lapse in government. Garnering wide interest across Canada and the
United States, it was only natural for journalists to cover the story. One
such journalist was Harold Dingman of Ottawa, whose article “Babies for
Export: Alberta’s Tragic Traffic in Babies” ran in the 27 December 1947
issue of Toronto magazine New Liberty.
In response to the controversial coverage of the report,
the Alberta Government moved swiftly, charging multiple people involved in
the publication of the New Liberty article (some who had never even met)
with conspiracy to publish a defamatory libel.
 With the charges laid, doubts surrounding freedom of the
press began to emerge. The case, potentially posing a threat to Alberta’s
democracy, drew even greater attention. Curious to witness how the case
would play out, journalists from across Canada and the United States
gathered in Edmonton to witness the trial.
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Heritage Community Foundation Presents
;)
;)
