Ontario. Ministry of the Solicitor General (1972-1993)

• Ministry of the Solicitor General

The Ministry of the Solicitor General was established in 1972, acquiring responsibility for policing and public safety in Ontario from the Attorney General and the Department of Justice.

Although there was no Solicitor General for Ontario prior to 1972, one did exist for both the Province of Upper Canada (1791-1840) and the Province of Canada (1841-1867). With the re-organization of the Government of Ontario in 1972, however, this long-dormant office was re- established.

Organizationally, the structure of the Ministry remained fairly stable between 1972 and 1993, consisting of an Administration Division, the Public Safety Division, and the Ontario Provincial Police. In 1990, a Policing Services Division was established, and by 1992, an Information Technology Division was added.

The Ministry was presided over by the Solicitor General, who was assisted by a Deputy Minister. However, with the resignation of the Hon. George Kerr as Solicitor General in 1978, the position of Solicitor General was assumed by the Attorney General. As such, the Hon. Roy McMurty held both offices, and was head of both Ministries, until 1982. The functions of the two Ministries during this period, however, were strictly separated.

On February 3, 1993, the Ministry of the Solicitor General was amalgamated with the Ministry of Correctional Services to form the Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services.

The Ministry of the Solicitor General was responsible for law enforcement and public safety in Ontario. Activities of the Ministry included supervision of the Ontario Provincial Police, the Ontario Police Commission, the Ontario Police Arbitration Commission, the Chief Coroner's Office, the Centre of Forensic Sciences, the Office of the Fire Marshall, Forensic Pathology, and Emergency Planning.

The Ministry of the Solicitor General Act, Statutes of Ontario 1972, Chap. 2

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

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12- 24

KWIC Indexes, 1977-1993

Archivist(s):
Robert Anger