Identity area
Type of entity
Higher-level Ontario government office (type A)
Authorized form of name
Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Department of the Attorney General
Other form(s) of name
Ontario. Attorney General's Dept.
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1791-1969
History
The Attorney General's Office was one of five executive offices of the government of Ontario that was established by the British North America Act (now the Constitution Act) of 1867. The position of Attorney General, however, extends back to 1791, when the Province of Upper Canada was established. The Attorney General's Office was renamed the Department of the Attorney General by 1886.
Through its Administration of Justice Division (later known as the Courts Administration Division), the Department was responsible for the administration of the various courts of the Province. Through the Crown Attorney's System, the Department was also responsible for the supervision and administration of the Crown Attorney's of the province.
Agencies which reported to the Department of the Attorney General for some period of time included the Corporations Registrar, the Inspector of Insurance Companies, the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, the Registrar of Friendly Societies, the Inspector of Registry Offices, the Provincial Municipal Auditor, the Superintendent of Neglected and Dependent Children, the Inspector of Legal Offices, the Master of Titles, the Office of the Fire Marshall, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Ontario Police Commission, Registrar of Regulations, the Centre of Forensic Sciences, the Director of Land Registration, the Emergency Measures Branch, and the Probation Services Branch.
In 1967, the Department of the Attorney General was renamed the Department of Justice. At the same time the title of the Attorney General itself, was changed to that of Minister of Justice and Attorney General, in order to reflect the position's responsibilities for all aspects of the justice system in Ontario.
Places
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
The mandate of the Department of the Attorney General was to administer the justice system through the instigation or suppression of prosecutions and to provide legal/constitutional advice to the other members of the Executive Council regarding legislation and other matters under discussion.
Address
Constitution Act (British North America Act), Statutes of Great Britain 1867, Chap. 3
Internal structures/genealogy
General context
Relationships area
Related entity
Ontario. Sheriffs (1968-1989) (1968-1989)
Identifier of related entity
CA953
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Sheriffs (1968-1989) is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1968-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Registrar of Regulations (1944-)
Identifier of related entity
CA241
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Registrar of Regulations is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1944-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Senior Crown Counsel (1945-1973)
Identifier of related entity
CA209
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Senior Crown Counsel is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1945-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Superintendent of Insurance (1912-)
Identifier of related entity
CA199
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Superintendent of Insurance is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1964-1966
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Dept. of Justice. Office Services Branch (1964-1973)
Identifier of related entity
CA252
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Dept. of Justice. Office Services Branch is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1964-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Official Guardian's Branch (1881-)
Identifier of related entity
CA216
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Official Guardian's Branch is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1881-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Public Protection Division (1964-1966)
Identifier of related entity
CA196
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Public Protection Division is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1964-1966
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Public Safety Division (1964-)
Identifier of related entity
CA269
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Public Safety Division is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1964-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Registrar of Loan and Trust Corporations (1897-1976)
Identifier of related entity
CA198
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Registrar of Loan and Trust Corporations is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1897-1966
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General. Accounts Branch (1964-1970)
Identifier of related entity
CA275
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General. Accounts Branch is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1964-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Centre of Forensic Sciences (1932-)
Identifier of related entity
CA1318
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Centre of Forensic Sciences is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1932-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Medico-Legal Laboratory (1931-1966)
Identifier of related entity
CA194
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Medico-Legal Laboratory is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1931-1966
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Chief Coroner (1961-)
Identifier of related entity
CA191
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Chief Coroner is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1961-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Inspector of Registry Offices (1868-1925)
Identifier of related entity
CA543
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Inspector of Registry Offices is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1868-1925
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Probation Services Branch (1952-1972)
Identifier of related entity
CA1492
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Probation Services Branch is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1952-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Public Trustee (1919-1996)
Identifier of related entity
CA2117
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Public Trustee is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1919-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Official Guardian Branch (1882-1996)
Identifier of related entity
CA2119
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Official Guardian Branch is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1882-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Chief Judge of the County and District Courts (1962-)
Identifier of related entity
BA742
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Chief Judge of the County and District Courts is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1962-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Legislative Counsel (1936-)
Identifier of related entity
CA240
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Legislative Counsel is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1936-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Superintendent of Neglected and Dependent Children (1893-1930)
Identifier of related entity
BA759
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Superintendent of Neglected and Dependent Children is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1898-1904
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Ministry of the Attorney General. Audit Services Branch (1968-1997)
Identifier of related entity
CA247
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Ministry of the Attorney General. Audit Services Branch is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1968-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Clerks of the Peace (1968-1984) (1968-1984)
Identifier of related entity
CA952
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Clerks of the Peace (1968-1984) is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1968-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Ministry of the Attorney General. Corporate Services Division (1964-1997)
Identifier of related entity
CA243
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Ministry of the Attorney General. Corporate Services Division is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1964-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Court Services Division (1964-)
Identifier of related entity
CA222
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Court Services Division is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1964-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General. Criminal Law Division (1964-1969)
Identifier of related entity
CA229
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General. Criminal Law Division is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1964-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Crown Attorneys (1968-) (1968-)
Identifier of related entity
CA230
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Crown Attorneys (1968-) is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1968-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Emergency Measures Branch (1960-1975)
Identifier of related entity
CA41
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Emergency Measures Branch is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1962-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Executive Council Office (1867-)
Identifier of related entity
CA62
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Executive Council Office is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1867-1905
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Ministry of the Attorney General. Human Resources Branch (1964-)
Identifier of related entity
CA246
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Ministry of the Attorney General. Human Resources Branch is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1964-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Attorney General (1791-1969) (1791-1969)
Identifier of related entity
CA270
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Attorney General (1791-1969) is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1791-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Deputy Attorney General (1878-1969) (1878-1969)
Identifier of related entity
CA266
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Deputy Attorney General (1878-1969) is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1878-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (1948-1973)
Identifier of related entity
CA219
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1948-1969
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Fire Marshal (1916-)
Identifier of related entity
CA268
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Fire Marshal is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1916-1919
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Inspector of Insurance Companies (1879-1912)
Identifier of related entity
CA197
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Inspector of Insurance Companies is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1899-1912
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Inspector of Legal Offices (1881-1964)
Identifier of related entity
CA274
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Inspector of Legal Offices is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1881-1964
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Office of the Provincial Municipal Auditor (1897-1917)
Identifier of related entity
CA293
Category of relationship
hierarchical
Type of relationship
Ontario. Office of the Provincial Municipal Auditor is controlled by Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
1897-1914
Description of relationship
Related entity
Ontario. Dept. of Justice (1969-1972)
Identifier of related entity
AA73
Category of relationship
temporal
Type of relationship
Ontario. Dept. of Justice is the successor of Ontario. Dept. of the Attorney General
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Access points area
Subject access points
Place access points
Epithet
Control area
Authority record identifier
AA28
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)
Status
Approved
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Directory and Guide to the Services of the Ontario Government, 1948-1967
Bishop, Olga. Publications of the Ontario Government, 1867-1900 (1976)
MacTaggart, Hazel. Publications of the Ontario Government, 1901-1955 (1964)
Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12-24
Maintenance notes
Archivist(s):
R. Anger