Ontario. Dept. of Labour

• Department of Labour

The Department of Labour was established in 1919, replacing the Trades and Labour Branch of the Department of Public Works. During its existence, the Department had responsibility for a number of different branches, agencies and boards. Although these agencies changed often over the history of the department, they generally focused on five primary areas: the regulation of wages; the regulation of working conditions and the safety of workers; human rights; industrial relations; and apprenticeship training and employment.

Some of the branches that have existed within the Department include the Boiler Inspection Branch, the Elevator Inspection Branch, the Factory Inspection Branch, the Construction Safety Branch, the Engineering Services Branch, the Fair Employment Practices Branch, the Industrial Training Branch, the Labour Standards Branch, the Public Relations and Information Branch, and a wide variety of departmental administrative services branches.

Agencies which reported to the Department include the Ontario Human Rights Commission; the Industry and Labour Board, the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the Board of Examiners of Operating Engineers, and the Workmen's Compensation Board.

In 1972 the Ontario government was substantially reorganized and many former departments were disbanded and replaced with Ministries. The Department of Labour continued to exist as the Ministry of Labour, but lost several of its functions to other jurisdictions during the restructuring. Of particular note were a number of functions associated with the regulation of working conditions and the safety of workers, which were transferred to the newly-formed Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations (MCCR). In addition, the Industrial Training Branch was transferred to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

The Department of Labour was responsible for the administration of statutes and regulations involving safety in industry, collective bargaining and the economic protection of workers.

Department of Labour Act, Statutes of Ontario 1919, Chap. 22

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

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

MacTaggart, Hazel I. Publications of the Government of Ontario, 1901-1955 (1964)

Directory and Guide to Services of the Ontario Government, 1956.

Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12-24

Archivist(s):
R. Anger