Ontario. Legislative Assembly. Office of the Clerk of the House

• Office of the Clerk of the House

• Ontario. Legislative Assembly. Clerk

• Ontario. Office of the Clerk of the House

The Office of the Clerk of the House was established in 1867. From 1867 to 1948 the Clerk of the House was paid directly through a special appropriation and reported directly to the Legislature, through the Office of the Speaker. In 1948 the office was moved to the jurisdiction of the Department of the Provincial Secretary, known after 1961 as the Department of the Provincial Secretary and Citizenship. In 1972, when the Department of the Provincial Secretary and Citizenship ceased to exist, the Clerk again reported through the Office of the Speaker to the Legislative Assembly. In 1974 revisions to the Legislative Assembly Act reformed the administration of the Assembly by creating the Office of the Assembly, which was an administrative grouping containing all offices of the Legislative Assembly, and which was headed by the Speaker. The Clerk has since reported through that structure.

Since Confederation seven individuals have filled the position: Charles Todd Gilmour, 1867-1892; Charles Clarke, 1892-1907; Arthur Henry Sydere, 1907-1926; Charles Frederick Bulmer, 1926; Alexander Cameron Lewis, 1926-1954; Roderick Gilmour Lewis, 1954-1985; Claude DesRosiers, 1985-2007; Deborah Deller, 2007-2016; Todd Decker, 2016-.

The Office of the Clerk of the House acts as the chief permanent officer of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The Clerk has the status of a Deputy Minister with responsibility for advising the Speaker and members of the Legislature on matters of parliamentary procedure and precedents.

In 1974, the Office of the Clerk of the House acquired legislative responsibility for the daily publication of Orders and Notices, Votes and Proceedings, and Daily Business Papers, which serve as the official record of the activities of the Legislative Assembly. The office also provides record keeping services for the Legislative Assembly and handles public enquiries regarding legislation and parliamentary procedure. Many of these functions had passed to the Clerk informally prior to 1974.

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

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Government of Ontario Telephone Directories, 1964-1970.

Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12- 24

Public Accounts of Ontario, 1972- 1974.

In 1973, this office appears to report through the Legislative Assembly, although it is included under Government Services in the Public Accounts. In 1974, it is listed as being within the "Office of the Speaker" and received a separate appropriation.

Archivist(s):
R. Anger