Alberta passes "The Mothers' Allowance Act"

1919. The Legislature of Alberta passes "An Act to aid Indigent Widows and Wives of Insane Persons in Support of Children" (or "The Mothers Allowance Act"). The aim of this Act was to provide financial assistance to women that were supporting children and who were the wives or widows of individuals living in asylums for the insane or mentally incompetent (§4).

Under this Act an inspector could be appointed by each municipal council in the province to review of claims for financial assistance. It was the inspector(s) job to handle applications, carry out investigations, and manage the general duties required under Act (§3).

In terms of procedures, the Act outlines that if, after review and approval from the provincial attorney general, an inspector thought financial assistance was necessary, claimants could be given single or repeat support (§5). Claimants included Albertan women in support of children who were either widowed or whose spouse was living an asylum (§4). The costs for financial support were to be split between the province and municipalities (§8).

This Act connects to eugenic history, specifically in western Canada, by showing that eugenic policies and practices had larger societal repercussions. Because thousands of individuals were put into institutions for the insane and mentally incompetent in Alberta during the early twentieth century, children were often left to be cared for by a single parent or relative. This put considerable financial and social strain on families. The fact that this Act aimed to alleviate some of that pressure through financial assistance, shows that the provincial government felt it necessary to compensate families connected to institutionalization. This implies that eugenic policies were having affects well beyond those they were directly meant to target. Thus this legislation helps to highlight how eugenic policies and practices had wide ranging impact on society.

-Luke Kersten

Alberta passes "The Mothers' Allowance Act"

1919. The Legislature of Alberta passes "An Act to aid Indigent Widows and Wives of Insane Persons in Support of Children" (or "The Mothers Allowance Act"). The aim of this Act was to provide financial assistance to women that were supporting children and who were the wives or widows of individuals living in asylums for the insane or mentally incompetent (§4).

Under this Act an inspector could be appointed by each municipal council in the province to review of claims for financial assistance. It was the inspector(s) job to handle applications, carry out investigations, and manage the general duties required under Act (§3).

In terms of procedures, the Act outlines that if, after review and approval from the provincial attorney general, an inspector thought financial assistance was necessary, claimants could be given single or repeat support (§5). Claimants included Albertan women in support of children who were either widowed or whose spouse was living an asylum (§4). The costs for financial support were to be split between the province and municipalities (§8).

This Act connects to eugenic history, specifically in western Canada, by showing that eugenic policies and practices had larger societal repercussions. Because thousands of individuals were put into institutions for the insane and mentally incompetent in Alberta during the early twentieth century, children were often left to be cared for by a single parent or relative. This put considerable financial and social strain on families. The fact that this Act aimed to alleviate some of that pressure through financial assistance, shows that the provincial government felt it necessary to compensate families connected to institutionalization. This implies that eugenic policies were having affects well beyond those they were directly meant to target. Thus this legislation helps to highlight how eugenic policies and practices had wide ranging impact on society.

-Luke Kersten