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The Continuing Select Committee was originally established on November 27, 1981 (Fourth Session - Nineteenth Legislature) to select members for and determine the terms of reference for other Select Committees appointed throughout the Legislature. The Committee met on a regular basis between 1981 and 2003.

The Committee met once during the First Session of the Twentieth Legislature, twice during the Second Session of the Twentieth Legislature, and once during the Third Session of the Twentieth Legislature.

Members of the Continuing Select Committee during the Twentieth Legislature were: Arnold Tusa, MLA (Last Mountain-Touchwood) (Chairman); Dwain Lingenfelter, MLA (Shaunavon) (Vice-Chairman); Larry Birkbeck, MLA (Moosomin); Joan Duncan, MLA (Maple Creek); James Garner, MLA (Wilkie); Ralph Katzman, MLA (Rosthern); Murray Koskie, MLA (Quill Lakes); Gerald Muirhead, MLA (Arm River); and Lloyd Sauder, MLA (Nipawin).

Staff member for the Committee was Gordon Barnhart (Clerk).

The Continuing Select Committee continued its functions in other legislative sessions until it was dissolved in June, 2003 upon the recommendation of the Special Committee on Rules and Procedures.

The organizational structure of the Department of Advanced Education and Manpower was based on two major divisions: Advanced Education and Manpower. Each division was administered by an Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM).

The Manpower Division was established on April 1, 1983. David W. Murray was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister, Manpower Division on June 23, 1983 (Order-in-Council 916/83) and served until 1985. Reporting directly to the Deputy Minister, the ADM was responsible for the following branches: Youth Services, Women's Services, Career Services, Native Services, Labour Market Planning and Information, Apprenticeship and Trade Certification.

The position was abolished in December, 1985 when certain components of the Manpower Division were transferred to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Programs Division of the Employment Development Agency.

The Deputy Minister's Office of the Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture was created with the province of Saskatchewan. The formation of the province in 1905 from portions of the former North-West Territories saw the structure of the existing territorial Department of Agriculture was continued as part of the new governmental entity. The positions Minister and Deputy Minister had been known as Commissioner and Deputy-Commissioner respectively and these forms continued in use until 1909. The Deputy Commissioner (Deputy Minister) served as the point through which flowed all the functions, activities and reporting to the Commissioner (Minister).

Those holding the post were:
John Rothes Charles Honeyman, September 1, 1905 - December 31, 1906 (Deputy Commissioner) This was a continuation of his position with the Territorial government.
Arthur Paterson Ketchen, January 1, 1907 - June 26, 1908 (Deputy Commissioner)
William John Rutherford, November 1, 1908 - August 31, 1910 (Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Minister - His title was Deputy Commissioner until December 18, 1909 when the title changed to Deputy Minister)
Alfred Frank Mantle, September 1, 1910 - September 26, 1916
Francis Hedley Auld, November 1, 1916 - December 31, 1947
Maurice E. Hartnett, January 1, 1947 - October 31, 1951
William Harold Horner, November 1, 1951 - May 31, 1972
Douglas Francis McArthur, June 1, 1972 - September 30, 1974
Ronald Gordon Dalgliesh, November 1, 1974 - September 1, 1979
Gerald John Gartner September 1, 1979 - May 11, 1982
John L. (Jack) Drew, (Acting DM) May 10, 1982 - May 5, 1983 and May 5, 1983 - May 1, 1989 (as DM)

Drew continued to serve as Deputy Minister after the department became Agriculture and Food, until March 13, 1990.

Between fiscal years 1979-1980 and 1981-1982 there was also an Associate Deputy Minister.

In 1945, the Audio-Visual Instruction Branch of the Department of Education was reorganized into the Visual Education Branch. Managed by a supervisor, the branch's original functions included loaning motion picture films, filmstrips, slides and other visual aids to schools and other organizations across the province to support instruction; instructing teachers and other individuals and groups on the use of visual materials and equipment; producing and distributing manuals to assist in using the materials; maintaining an extensive library of films produced by the National Film Board, other government departments and private corporations; and producing motion pictures, photographs, filmstrips and slides relating to various subjects including agriculture, health and citizenship.

The Production Unit of the Visual Education Branch produced motion picture films, still photographs, filmstrips, slides and other visual aids for publicity and educational purposes. Motion picture films were produced for tourism, publicity or instructional purposes. Staff photographers created images of individuals, buildings and public events at the request of other government departments for use in annual reports, pamphlets, displays, etc. The unit provided processing and enlargement services and maintained a library of still photographs. Effective March 31, 1954, the Unit was transferred to the Bureau of Publications and became known as the Government Photographic Services.

From 1945 to 1955, the branch maintained an arrangement with the National Film Board (NFB) whereby a NFB projectionist provided assistance in showing educational films in schools that did not have the necessary equipment. The arrangement ended when the NFB established its own office in Regina for distribution of its film in Saskatchewan.

Around 1965, the Visual Education Branch became the Visual Education Section of the newly created Curriculum Branch.

Previous to 1923 the Department of Highways assumed no responsibility for the maintenance of highways. The responsibility rested with rural municipal councils. In 1923 the newly organized Maintenance Branch took over control of the maintenance of all provincial highways which had been completed at that time. In addition, the Maintenance Branch took over maintenance of other roads which had been built either by the province or by rural municipalities up to a standard that permitted them to be included in the provincial system without requiring further construction work. At first the Maintenance Branch employed local farmers to maintain short sections of roadways convenient to their homes. Work consisted mainly of maintaining a smooth road surface by means of dragging, keeping weeds cut, repairing washouts and other damage caused by flood waters. In 1924 the Maintenance Branch took over control of all completed portions of the provincial highway system. No winter maintenance was performed until 1929 when a snow removal pilot project between Moose Jaw and Regina was implemented.

In 1930 the province was divided into eight districts, each under a District Engineer. In 1931, due to economic considerations, full time maintenance activities were discontinued and a program of relief work was introduced. In 1935, work done by the Maintenance Branch expanded to include snow prevention and removal.

During the 1940s close to 1,000 miles of provincial highway were added to the workload of the Maintenance Branch, along with the erection and maintenance of highway signs. Securing the delivery of maintenance equipment and labour proved difficult in the first half of the decade due the demands of the Second World War. Major re-gravelling and other upgrades were performed on the provincial system in the late 1940s.

The 1950s saw a major upgrade of maintenance equipment. A dramatic rise in the volume of traffic on provincial roads, accompanied by greater gross weight allowances for trucks lead to increased maintenance activity. In 1954, the Maintenance Branch implemented a program of issuing daily road condition reports. Major road resurfacing projects were untaken by the branch in 1959.

The 1960s brought the continued modernization of maintenance equipment. By the mid-1960s 9,000 miles of highways were maintained by the Branch. In 1968 the Maintenance Branch was discontinued and replaced by the Maintenance Division under the direct control of the Operations Branch.

In 1972, the Department of Natural Resources underwent a major reorganization. The Conservation Information Branch; the Museum of Natural History; and the Hunter Safety Program were amalgamated to form the new Extension Services Branch. The branch's primary mandate was to educate the public on the management and utilization of Saskatchewan's renewable resources including fish, timber, and wildlife. The branch was managed by a director, who reported to the associate deputy minister.

The Conservation Information Service was responsible for public education and awareness. The division's activities included: preparing and distributing promotional materials and informational items, including pamphlets, guides, stickers, special publications and "The Resource Report", a weekly collection of press releases and articles featuring departmental activities; operating telephone information lines in Regina, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon and Prince Albert; organizing advertising campaigns; assisting with special events; and producing news programs for radio and television, including the "Northern News" radio program broadcast from Prince Albert to all northern areas.

The Museum of Natural History hosted visitors at its permanent facility in Regina; offered various public education programs; designed, created and installed interpretive displays in provincial parks, recreation areas and regional parks; conducted archaeological research; and administered the provincial historic sites program.

The Hunter Safety Program, formerly under the jurisdiction of the department's Wildlife Branch, offered training on the proper handling of firearms and ammunition, safe hunting practices, game identification and field survival. The program, taught by volunteer instructors and administered with the co-operation of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, was offered to schools, community groups, armed forced cadet leagues and other interested parties. The program's supervisors were located in Regina and Prince Albert.

In 1973, the Hunter Safety Program was renamed the Firearm Safety Program. The Extension Services Branch became responsible for standardizing the department's visual identity through the design, planning and production of displays, printed materials, signs, promotional items and advertising. The "Northern News" radio program was transferred to the newly established Department of Northern Saskatchewan and was produced from La Ronge. On April 1, 1974, the Department of Natural Resources and the Tourist Branch of the Department of Industry and Commerce were amalgamated to form the Department of Tourism and Renewable Resources. The Extension Services Branch continued to operate in the new department with a modified structure and mandate.

The Child and Family Services Division of the Department of Community Resources and Employment was established on April 1, 2003. It was responsible for the administration of The Child and Family Services Amendment Act, 2003. The division reported to one of the department's Assistant Deputy Ministers, Shelley Whitehead. Its programs and services supported child protection, foster care, adoption, teen and young parent welfare, and family violence intervention and counselling. The division also consulted with child and family services agencies from eighteen First Nations on the provision of child welfare services to families living on reserve.

The Child and Family Services Division was disestablished on February 3, 2006. Responsibilities of the division were transferred to the Child and Family Services Division of the Department of Community Resources