Identity area
Type of entity
Primary Agency
Authorized form of name
North-West Territories. Department of Agriculture
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
- Department of Agriculture
- North-West Territories. Dept. of Agriculture
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1897-1905
History
The government and civil service of the North-West Territories was in an almost constant state of flux in the time period between the creation of the territory and the creation of the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905. Rail access to the Canadian west resulted in a population boom, primarily of those involved in farming who moved to the west to gain access to cheap agricultural land. The responsibilities of local government expanded as the population grew.
The Department of Public Works had become a catch-all for many activities but as the population expanded and responsibilities grew, some duties relating to agriculture once handled by the Department of Public Works were transferred to the Department of the Territorial Secretary. It quickly became obvious that these responsibilities were more than expected. On December 15, 1897, An Ordinance Respecting the Department of Agriculture received assent forming the Department of Agriculture.
James Hamilton Ross was serving as both Territorial Secretary and Commissioner of Public Works. Until the creation of the new department, the functions of the Department of Agriculture fell under those two offices. Upon its creation, he was also given the Agriculture portfolio. He held this portfolio until January 21, 1899.
He was followed as Commissioner by George Hedley Vicars Bulyea (January 21, 1899 to February 4, 1903) and William Elliot (February 4, 1903 to August 31, 1905).
On December 18, 1897, John Alexander Reid, Clerk of the Executive Council, was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture. The government felt that work relating to the department could be handled by Reid in connection with his office as Clerk. In June, six months later, the workload necessitated the temporary appointment of Charles Walter Peterson as a dedicated Deputy Commissioner and this position was confirmed on October 13, 1898. Peterson held the position until June 30, 1903. John Rothes Charles Honeyman took over as Deputy Commissioner on July 1, 1903 and held this post until August 31, 1905 (provincial status for Saskatchewan and Alberta).
The first annual report of the department was delivered in 1899. It described little of the accomplishments of the fledgling department but focused primarily on what could be accomplished by the fledgling agricultural industry if given support by government. It promoted the value of experimental farms including test irrigation, the importance of meteorological observations and the need for noxious weed ordinances.
Broad categories of departmental activities included reports on various livestock, registration of livestock brands, support for agricultural societies, fire suppression, wildlife and game and territorial hospitals.
The report for 1899-1900 included an expansion of activities relating to public health.
By 1900-1901, as individual clerks were given specific responsibilities, the roots of distinct branches could be seen:
Statistical - agricultural, meteorological, medical and vital statistics Brands - registration of cattle brands
Accountants - accounts, remittances and deposits
Agricultural Organizations - support for various farming and livestock groups
Records Branch - incoming and outgoing correspondence.
The Department continued until the creation of the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta in 1905 at which time responsibility devolved to the respective provincial jurisdictions.
Places
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
The Department of Agriculture was responsible for the administration of all parts of government relating to agriculture, statistics and the public health (including hospitals).
Mandates/sources of authority
The Agriculture Department Ordinance (North-West Territories Ordinances, 1897, no. 18)
Internal structures/genealogy
General context
Relationships area
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Type of relationship
is the successor of
North-West Territories. Department of Agriculture
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Type of relationship
is the successor of
North-West Territories. Department of Agriculture
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Type of relationship
is controlled by
North-West Territories. Department of Agriculture
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Type 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 2008-06-02. Approved 2012-03-06. Last modified on 2017-11-29.
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
The Agriculture Department Ordinance (North-West Territories Ordinances, 1897, no. 18)
Dept. of Agriculture Annual Reports