Canada (Province). Provincial Secretary's Office

• Provincial Secretary's Office

• Canada (Province). Secretary's Office

• Office of the Provincial Secretary for Canada West

With the passing of an Imperial Act in 1840, more commonly known as the Union Act, it was established that the two Provincial Secretary's Offices, one in the former province of Upper Canada and the other in the former province of Lower Canada, were to continue as separate offices, rather than be united. This practice was continued until the resignation of Samuel Bealey Harrison, Provincial Secretary for Canada West. With his resignation no successor was appointed and the duties of the office were carried out by Domenick Daly, Provincial Secretary for Canada East. With the Constitution Act (formerly the British North America Act) of 1867, the office of the Provincial Secretary for Ontario was established, replacing the office of the Provincial Secretary for the province of Canada. By 1875, this office was renamed the Department of the Provincial Secretary.

The Provincial Secretary was the liaison between the Governor and Parliament. The position was also responsible for recording the reports of other government officials, and for controlling the Great Seal and the Privy Seal (as such, all important appointments and commissions were ratified by this office).

Union Act, Statutes of Great Britain 1840, Chap. 35

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Bishop, Olga. Publications of the Government of the Province of Canada, 1841-1867 (1963)

Agency not in Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12-24

Archivist(s):
R. Anger