Involuntary Sterilizations In Alberta Case Study

1. What legislation did the provincial government propose? Why did it invoke the notwithstanding clause?
The provincial government proposed the sexual sterilization Act which enabled the Alberta Eugenics Board to sterilize 2822 wards in order to “improve” the human race through parent selection. Men and women were sterilized without their consent to make sure they did not pass on their disabilities to the next generation. This invoked the notwithstanding clause because it took away their life and liberty right. They have the right to choose when to have kids and if they want kids. Now they don’t have the choice to pick either, which in the long term takes away a huge aspect of their life.

2. The issue of involuntary sterilization, especially after World War II, violates many moral and ethical principles. Why do you think sterilizations in Alberta continued until 1972,

It happened especially after WWII because men and women believed that if they weren’t sterilized their disabilities would be transmitted to the next generation. It was a very popular beliefs but later on, the theory was disproved. The current leader did not want to pay thousands of the provinces dollars on something the past government was responsible for.

3. Do you think it is the responsibility of taxpayers in Alberta to compensate victims for abuses committed by previous governments?

I believe that the government has a responsibility to compensate the victims but not by using the money of taxpayers. The reason people pay taxes is solely for the intent that the government would use it to make the environment and society which affects them better, like money going towards roads, community centers and other public factors. If the government uses tax money to compensate the victims, they’re using the money incorrectly because tax money should better the public affairs rather than private