Ontario. Regional Development Branch

Identity area

Type of entity

Lower-level Ontario government office (type C)

Authorized form of name

Ontario. Regional Development Branch

Parallel form(s) of name

    Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

    • Regional Development Branch

    Other form(s) of name

    • Ontario. Region Development Branch

    Identifiers for corporate bodies

    Description area

    Dates of existence

    1965-1973

    History

    The Regional Development Branch was created within the Ontario Department of Economics and Development in 1965. Within the Department, the branch fell under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Chief Economist.

    The origins of the Regional Development Branch date to 1953, when Regional Development Associations partially funded by the government (later called Regional Development Councils) were formed in various parts of Ontario in 1953. The original goal of the regional development programme, as stated in 1956, was to create, assist, develop and maintain productive employment and to develop the human and material resources of the Province. At that time, the Trade and Industry Branch of the Department of Planning and Development was given responsibility for creating liaisons between the associations and various government departments, and for administering grants in support of the work of the associations. In 1963, the administration of the programme was removed from that branch to a separate section variously known as “Regional Development Services” or “Regional Development Division”. It was first termed “Regional Development Branch” in 1965.

    In June, 1968 the Regional Development Branch was moved to the Department of Treasury and Economics, where it became part of the Policy Planning Division. In April, 1972 it was again moved, to the Ministry of Treasury, Economics and Intergovernmental Affairs, where it became part of the Urban and Regional Planning Division.

    In 1973, the branch was replaced by the Regional Planning Branch (although three years later its name reverted to Regional Development Branch).

    Places

    Legal status

    Functions, occupations and activities

    The Regional Development Branch had both research and advisory functions. The Regional Research Section prepared reports concerning the financial and economic position of the regional areas of Ontario, while the Regional Development Services Section provided practical advice to and acted as liaison and advisers to the province’s Regional Development Councils.

    Address

    Internal structures/genealogy

    General context

    Relationships area

    Related entity

    Ontario. Dept. of Economics and Development (1961-1968)

    Identifier of related entity

    AA16

    Category of relationship

    hierarchical

    Type of relationship

    Ontario. Dept. of Economics and Development controls Ontario. Regional Development Branch

    Dates of relationship

    1965-1968

    Description of relationship

    Related entity

    Ontario. Dept. of Treasury and Economics (1968-1972)

    Identifier of related entity

    AA33

    Category of relationship

    hierarchical

    Type of relationship

    Ontario. Dept. of Treasury and Economics controls Ontario. Regional Development Branch

    Dates of relationship

    1968-1972

    Description of relationship

    Related entity

    Ontario. Ministry of Treasury, Economics and Intergovernmental Affairs (1972-1978)

    Identifier of related entity

    AA86

    Category of relationship

    hierarchical

    Type of relationship

    Dates of relationship

    1972-1973

    Description of relationship

    Access points area

    Subject access points

    Place access points

    Epithet

    Control area

    Authority record identifier

    CA894

    Institution identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

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

    Status

    Approved

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

    Language(s)

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Archives of Ontario. Inventory 9 - Records of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (February 1997)

        Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12-24

        Maintenance notes

        Canadiana says this became known as the Regional Planning Branch in 1974, however, the June 1973 Government of Ontario Telephone Directory has it listed as "Regional Planning Branch". As well, I found the form of name "Region Development Branch" used in earlier directories.


        Archivist(s):
        Robert Anger