Ontario. Dept. of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works

• Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works

Under the terms of the British North America Act of 1867, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was empowered to appoint, as one of the executive officers of the government, a Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works. This was done on March 4, 1868, when legislation was passed establishing the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works.

Reflecting these separate responsibilities of the Department, the Commissioner was referred to simply as the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts when dealing with matters relating to arts and agriculture, and as the Commissioner of Public Works, when dealing with matters relating to public works.

In 1869, however, a separate Department of Public Works was established. Thus, although one individual continued to act as both the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts and as the Commissioner of Public Works, the public works functions of the government were, from 1869 on, carried out by the Department of Public Works.

The agricultural and arts functions of the Department, on the other hand, were carried out by the Commissioner, through the Bureau of Agriculture and Arts. "Arts", at the time, referred to the practical application of an industrial, manufacturing, or scientific pursuit, rather than to its current meaning. Additionally, a variety of both agricultural and arts-related agencies were required to report to the commissioner, and to provide statistical information to the Bureau. These included: the Council of Agricultural and Arts Associations; the Association of Mechanics' Institutes of Ontario; the Dairymen's Association of Ontario; the Entomological Society of Ontario; the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario; various County and Electoral Division Agricultural Societies; and the Ontario Agricultural College and Experimental Farm, among others.

In 1869, the Department was also given responsibility over immigration, and an Immigration Branch was established. This Branch was replaced in 1874 with the Department of Immigration.

Also in 1874, legislation was passed providing for the establishment of a separate Commissioner for the Department of Public Works. Use of the name Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works, however, continued until 1877, when legislation was passed replacing it with the Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Arts.

The Department of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Public Works was responsible for promoting and encouraging agricultural, horticultural, and manufacturing activities in Ontario, as well as directing the construction, maintenance and repair of public works.

Act for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Horticulture, Arts, and Manufactures, Statutes of Ontario 1868, Chap. 29

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

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

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

Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12-24

Archivist(s):
R. Anger