Ontario. Ministry of Municipal Affairs

• Ministry of Municipal Affairs

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs was established in 1985, when the Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing (1981-1985) was divided into two separate Ministries.

The Ministry was presided over by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, who was assisted by a Deputy Minister and several Assistant Deputy Ministers. Until 1989, the branches of the Ministry were essentially grouped into two primary divisions - Municipal Affairs and Community Planning. In 1989, however, the Ministry was restructured and the divisions were reformed as the Municipal Policy Development Division and the Municipal Operations Division.

The administrative services of the Ministry were carried out by a Corporate Resources Management Division, which was jointly responsible for the human resources, financial and accounting, facilities, and communications services of both the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Ministry of Housing.

Agencies which reported to the Ministry included the Ontario Municipal Board, the Ontario Municipal Audit Bureau, and the Niagara Escarpment Commission.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs continued to exist until 1995, when it was re-amalgamated with the Ministry of Housing (1985-1995) to form the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (1995- ).

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs was responsible for the province's policies and programs relating to municipal government. Activities of the Ministry included: financial assistance to municipalities through transfer payments; legislation and policy development regarding municipalities; provision of advice and assistance on municipal administration and organization; and the co-ordination of community and land use planning.

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Act, Statutes of Ontario 1981, Chap. 19

O.Regs. 374/85 and 375/85

No new legislation was passed establishing the Ministry of Municipal Affairs in 1985, rather it continued to operate under the aegis of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Act of 1981. The powers and duties of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing under this Act, however, were transferred to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and to the Minister of Housing by the Ont. Regulations mentioned above.

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

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12- 24

KWIC Indexes, 1985-1995

Government of Ontario Telephone Directories, 1985-1995

Ministry of Municipal Affairs Annual Reports, 1985-1991

Archivist(s):
R. Anger