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 At the end of the Second World War, the Alberta
provincial chapter of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE)
realized they had money remaining from their efforts to raise funds during
the war. As they were collectively interested in child welfare, they decided
to spend these funds in pursuit of social reform, engaging Dr. Charlotte Whitton of Ottawa to lead the project.
Agreeing to work with the IODE, Whitton travelled to Edmonton and took up her work. Her first course of
action was to obtain data from the welfare official in the provincial
government. Met with a lack of cooperation, Whitton embarked on gathering
information independently. The day before the IODE report was released to
the public, exposing the harsh reality of the social welfare system in
Alberta, the Alberta Department of Health set up a commission to investigate
child welfare.
 The Babies for Export case emerged at a time when
extensive social welfare programs had not been established in Alberta and
the government was uncertain of the legality of criticism publicly lodged
against it. Although the charge of libel had arisen in Alberta during the
Bankers’ Toadies case just 10 years earlier, it seemed that further
definition of the rights and responsibilities of the press was required.
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Heritage Community Foundation Presents
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