Ontario passes “An Act to Authorise the Erection of an Asylum within this Province for the Reception of Insane and Lunatic Person.”

May 11th, 1839. The Ontario government (then known as the Province of Upper Canada) passes "An Act to Authorise the Erection of an Asylum within this Province for the Reception of Insane and Lunatic Persons."

The aim of this legislation was to give the government of Ontario the authority to establish the first provincial asylum for people with developmental disabilities. The legislation specified who was be in charge of building the institution, who was to run the institution, and on what grounds people could be admitted to the institution. Admittance to the proposed institution required a certificate from three recognized physicians practicing within Ontario.

The importance of this legislation in eugenics history is that it was the first piece of legislation to be introduced in Canada directly dealing with persons with mental disabilities. This legislation resulted in the opening of the "Provincial Lunatic Asylum" in Toronto, Ontario, on January 26, 1850 (www.archivescanada.ca).

-Luke Kersten

Ontario passes “An Act to Authorise the Erection of an Asylum within this Province for the Reception of Insane and Lunatic Person.”

May 11th, 1839. The Ontario government (then known as the Province of Upper Canada) passes "An Act to Authorise the Erection of an Asylum within this Province for the Reception of Insane and Lunatic Persons."

The aim of this legislation was to give the government of Ontario the authority to establish the first provincial asylum for people with developmental disabilities. The legislation specified who was be in charge of building the institution, who was to run the institution, and on what grounds people could be admitted to the institution. Admittance to the proposed institution required a certificate from three recognized physicians practicing within Ontario.

The importance of this legislation in eugenics history is that it was the first piece of legislation to be introduced in Canada directly dealing with persons with mental disabilities. This legislation resulted in the opening of the "Provincial Lunatic Asylum" in Toronto, Ontario, on January 26, 1850 (www.archivescanada.ca).

-Luke Kersten