Identity area
Type of entity
Government
Authorized form of name
British Columbia. Ministry of Attorney General
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
- Ministry of Attorney General
- British Columbia. Ministry of Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism
- British Columbia. Ministry of Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations
- British Columbia. Ministry of Justice
- British Columbia. Ministry of Justice and Attorney General
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1979-
History
The Ministry of Attorney General was established in 1871 under its first name, the Attorney-General’s Department of the Province of British Columbia, by authority of the Constitution Act of 1871 (SBC 1871, c. 147). Prior to that, from 1863 to 1866, the origins of the ministry were in the offices of the Attorney-General for the Colony of Vancouver Island and for the Colony of British Columbia. In 1866, the colonies united to form one colony, with one Attorney-General, who remained in place until British Columbia became a province of the Dominion of Canada in 1871.
The Attorney-General was the official legal advisor of the Lieutenant-Governor and of the Executive Council. He was responsible for the settlement and approval of all documents issued under the public seal of the province and for the supervision of magistrates, police, and the constabulary. In 1899, the department was reconstituted by the Attorney-General’s Act (SBC 1899, c. 5), which expanded the duties and powers of the Attorney-General to include: management and direction of correctional institutions, the British Columbia Police, and the administration of public affairs; provision of legislative and legal advice to the representative of the Crown and the heads of government departments; administration of justice within the Province; and regulation of all litigation for and against the Crown and public departments within the jurisdiction of the Legislature. At various times several different agencies have been under the direction of the Attorney-General, such as the Industrial Schools for Boys and for Girls, Factories Inspection Branch, Electrical Energy Inspection Branch, Mothers’ Pension Board, Municipal Branch, Provincial Board of Health, Prohibition Commission, Public Utilities Commission, and Superintendent of Neglected Children. In most instances these agencies have later been placed under the management of other departments, absorbed into new organizations, or abolished altogether.
On Oct. 28 1976, the Dept. of the Attorney-General was renamed Ministry of the Attorney-General (OIC 3199/76 and CNAF). The name changed again in 1979 to Ministry of Attorney General (SBC, 1979, c. 23).
In 2001, the Ministry was renamed The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and a new Ministry of Attorney General was created (OIC 565/2001). The mandate in 2001 continued with the Attorney General as the chief law officer for the province and official legal advisor to Cabinet. The ministry is responsible for the administration and delivery of justice services, except for youth corrections. Its programs are divided into five areas: criminal, civil/family, administrative, human rights, and regulatory.
Between 2012 and 2017 the Ministry was renamed the Ministry of Justice. After 2017 the name returned to Ministry of Attorney General.
Places
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
Mandates/sources of authority
Internal structures/genealogy
A Government Name
General context
Relationships area
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Type of relationship
is controlled by
British Columbia. Ministry of Attorney General
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Type of relationship
is the successor of
British Columbia. Ministry of Attorney General
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Related entity
Identifier of related entity
Category of relationship
Type of relationship
is the predecessor of
British Columbia. Ministry of Attorney General
Dates of relationship
Description of relationship
Access points area
Subject access points
Place access points
Occupations
Control area
Authority record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Michael Carter 2008-07-29
Revised: RMCRORY 2020-12-16
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Central Name Authority File
Maintenance notes
Created by: Michael Carter