Shortly before his death in 1948, Joseph E. Atkinson transferred ownership of the paper to a charitable organization given the mandate of continuing the paper's liberal tradition. In 1949, the Province of Ontario passed the Charitable Gifts Act, barring charitable organizations from owning large parts of profit-making businesses, that effectively required the Star to be sold.
Shortly before his death in 1948, Joseph E. Atkinson transferred ownership ,of the paper to a charitable organization given the mandate of continuing the paper's liberal, tradition. In 1949 the Province of Ontario passed the Charitable Gifts Act ,barring charitable organizations from owning large parts of profit-making businesses that effectively required the Star to be sold.