Identity area
Type of entity
Primary Agency
Authorized form of name
Canada. Dept of the Secretary of State of Canada
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
- Secretary of State of Canada
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1868-1893
History
The Department of the Secretary of State was established at Confederation and assumed the responsibilities of the pre-Confederation Provincial Secretary which was primarily concerned with civic and cultural affairs. An Act (31 Vic., Cap. 42) was passed in 1868 confirming these responsibilities. In 1873, the short-lived post-Confederation Secretary of State for the Provinces was partially absorbed by the Department of Secretary of State which became responsible for conducting official correspondence with the provinces.
Originally the official channel of communication between the Dominion of Canada and the government of Great Britain, the Department also had the responsibility for state and ceremonial occasions from its inception. Early responsibilities included management of Indian and Crown Lands and the duties of the Registrar General. At various times the Department has been responsible for: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Public Service Commission (PSC), State Protocol, Patents, Copyrights, Trade Marks and Industrial Designs, Elections, Government Printing and Stationery, the Custodian of Enemy Property, and Arts and Culture. It has also been responsible for Citizenship and Naturalization, Multiculturalism, Education Support, and the application of the Official Languages Act. Although many changes in the responsibilities of the Secretary of State have occurred, its primary functions of communication and registration have remained unaltered since Confederation.
The Secretary of State reported directly to parliament during its lifetime on its own behalf and on behalf of numerous cultural bodies including the Canada Council, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), and the Public Service Commission (including the PSC Advisory Council on the Status of Women). In 1993, the functions of the Secretary of State, where they continued, became the responsibility of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Places
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
Although many changes in the responsibilities of the Secretary of State have occured during its history, its primary function of communication and registration have remained unaltered since Confederation.
Mandates/sources of authority
An Act Providing for the Organization of the Secretary of State for Canada and for the Management of Indian and Ordinance Lands (SC 31 Vic [1868, c.42).
Internal structures/genealogy
General context
Relationships area
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Access points area
Subject access points
Place access points
Occupations
Control area
Authority record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Rules for Archival Description (RAD)
Status
Final
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Authority record created on 2011-08-10. Approved 2012-01-04. Last modified on 2017-11-29.
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
National Archives of Canada., Secretary of State of Canada fonds Administrative History, Entry R174-0-6-E