Ontario. Dept. of Immigration

• Department of Immigration

The Ontario Department of Immigration was established on April 6, 1874, replacing the Immigration Branch of the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works.

The new Department was to be headed by a Commissioner of Immigration. However, a new executive officer of the Government was not established for this position. Instead, one of the existing executive officers was to serve as the Commissioner of Immigration, in addition to carrying out his regular duties. The Executive Officer who served as Commissioner of Immigration was the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works (from 1874-1877); the Secretary and Registrar of the Province of Ontario (1877-1888); and the Minister of Agriculture (from 1888-1899).

The Department of Immigration, along with the position of Commissioner of Immigration, was abolished in 1899, and replaced with the Bureau of Colonization.

The Department of Immigration was responsible for promoting and encouraging immigration to Ontario, primarily from the United Kingdom. The Department maintained agents in England, Scotland and Ireland who had responsibility for promoting Ontario and for providing immigration aid to certain immigrants. The Department was also responsible for providing guidance and information to newly arrived immigrants.

Order in Council (April 6, 1874)

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

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Bishop, Olga. Publications of the Ontario Government, 1867-1900 (1976)

Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12- 24

Archivist(s):
R. Anger