Ontario. Dept. of Education. Office of the Deputy Minister

• Office of the Deputy Minister

The first Deputy Minister of Education was appointed when the Department of Education was created in 1876. This position succeeded that of the Deputy Superintendent of the defunct Department of Public Instruction for Ontario. Until the Department of Education Act, 1909 (Edw. VI 8, Chap. 88), the position was officially attached to the Office of the Minister of Education. From 1909, it was attached to the Department of Education.

From 1906 to 1919, the position of Superintendent of Education, with responsibility for education policy and the education system, existed alongside the position of Deputy Minister. From 1923 to 1934, and from 1944 to 1964, the position of Chief Director of Education was responsible for education policy. The Deputy Minister was subordinate to the Chief Director and was responsible for internal administration of the Department and for supervising the education system. However, Dr. Duncan McArthur served as both Chief Director and Deputy Minister from 1934 to 1940.

The mushrooming administration work load in the Department of Education resulted in the appointment of a second Deputy Minister in 1956. Effective January, 1965, the Department was again restructured. The position of Chief Director was abolished and the position of Deputy Minister reverted to a single official.

Between 1967 and 1972, the Office of the Deputy Minister included the Cultural Exchange Programs Office (renamed the Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs Office in 1968), News and Information Services (formerly Information Branch), and the Special Projects Section. In 1971, the Special Projects Section moved to the Curriculum Branch.

In 1972, the Department of Education was replaced with the Ministry of Education. As a result of this transformation, the Office of the Deputy Minister, Department of Education ceased to exist and its functions were assumed by the Office of the Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education.

The position of Deputy Minister was held by Dr. John George Hodgins (1876-1890), Alexander Marling (January - April, 1890), John Millar (1890-1905), Dr. A.H.U. Colquhoun (1906-1934), Dr. Duncan McArthur (1934-1940, concurrently Chief Director), Dr. G.F. Rogers (1940-1945), Major J.P. Cowles (1945-1946, acting), Dr. E.S. Rutherford (1946-1951), Dr. C.F. Cannon (1951-1956), Dr. F.S. Rivers (1956-1961), Dr. C.W. Booth (1956-1964), Dr. H.E. Elborn (1961-1965), W.R. Stewart (1964-1965), Dr. Z.S. Phimister (1965-1966), Dr. John R. McCarthy (1966-1971), and Dr. E.E. Stewart (1971-1973).

The Deputy Minister was responsible for the executive management and daily operations of the Department of Education. From 1906 to 1919, 1923 to 1934, and 1944 to 1964, the Deputy Minister was limited to administrative matters and supervising the education system, while the Superintendent of Education (1906-1919) and Chief Director (1923-1934, 1944-1964) were responsible for providing policy advice to the Minister of Education.

When the positions of Superintendent of Education or Chief Director did not exist, the Deputy Minister was also responsible for providing the Minister with information and advice on policy and legislation.

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

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Inventory of the Ministry of Education

Archivist(s):
Chang