Ontario. Ministry of Natural Resources

• Ontario. Ministère des Richesses naturelles

• Ministry of Natural Resources

• MNR

The Ministry of Natural Resources was established in 1972, with the merging of the Department of Lands and Forests with the Department of Mines. The head of the Ministry is the Minister of Natural Resources.

The many branches of the Ministry have been organised into a number of divisions over the years. Although the names of these divisions have at times changed, they have tended to focus around several primary areas: water and land conservation and management; fish and wildlife management; field services and regional office administration; forest resources; and provincial parks and recreation areas.

The Ministry was responsible for programs and activities concerning northern affairs, until 1977, and for mines, until 1985. The northern affairs functions was removed from the Ministry in 1977 and established as the Ministry of Northern Affairs. In 1985, the mines functions were transferred to the Ministry of Northern Affairs, which was subsequently renamed the Ministry of Northern Affairs and Mines.

Agencies of the Ministry have included: the Niagara Parks Commission; the St. Lawrence Parks Commission; the Mining and Lands Commissioner; the Algonquin Forestry Authority; and the Provincial Parks Council, among others.

In 2014 the ministry was renamed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, but responsibilities did not change.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible for programs concerned with the land, water, trees, fish and animals of the province. Ministry activities include: the administration and protection of Crown lands and waters; regulation of the fish and wildlife resources of Ontario; management of the production and harvest of timber; forest fire control; development and administration of provincial parks and recreation areas; and the provision of financial assistance to Conservation Authorities. Between 1972 and 1977, the Ministry was also responsible for programs and activities associated with northern affairs, and from 1972 until 1985, the Ministry was responsible for mines.

The Ministry of Natural Resources Act, Statutes of Ontario 1972, Chap. 4

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

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12-24

KWIC Indexes, 1975-1996

Government of Ontario Telephone Directories, 1972-1996

Archivist(s):
R. Anger; Doiron & Rossiter