One of the main advocates of eugenics who helped pass Alberta's sterilization law was the first female magistrate of the British Empire, Emily Murphy, who was also one of the Famous five (Canada) who campaigned for women's rights in the 1920s. Under her influence, many Albertans, especially farmers who saw first-hand what selective breeding can do to enhance livestock quality, agreed that eugenics could be used to improve human stock as well.
Emily Murphy, the first female magistrate of the British Empire and one of the Famous Five (Canada) who fought for women's rights in the 1920s, was instrumental in Alberta’s sterilization law. Her advocacy extended to Albertans, particularly farmers who saw benefits from selective breeding in livestock, prompting them to support eugenics as a method to improve human stock.