Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Orders in Council
General material designation
- textual record
- microform
- cartographic material
- multiple media
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of series.
- Variations in title: Previously known as: "Orders-in-council"
Level of description
Series
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1872-2009 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
238 microfilm reels [B06398-B06635], 62 maps, 8.9 m textual records
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Attorney-General’s Department was established in 1871 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 Provincial 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.
In 1976, the Dept. of the Attorney-General was renamed the Ministry of the Attorney General (OIC 3199/76).
Name of creator
Biographical 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.
Name of creator
Biographical 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). 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.
In 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).
Custodial history
Scope and content
The series consists of Orders in Council (OIC) created between 1872 and 2009, arranged numerically by year and then by OIC number. The series also includes some maps and text attachments which were transferred in 1974 from the Dept. of the Provincial Secretary. An Order in Council is a directive issued by the Lieutenant Governor on the advice of Cabinet authorizing certain actions, including creating simple legislation and granting political appointments.
Containers 941119-0002, 941119-0004, and 941119-0006 contain proclamations. These ledgers include a copy of the Order in Council relating to the proclamation and a copy of the proclamation. Each book contains an index listing both the OIC number and the subject of the proclamation.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Containers 910472-0752 to 0818 and 941119-0002, 0003, 0004, and 0006 were transferred from the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General in October 2016.
Arrangement
Some post-1995 OIC files may reference attachments as removed and "filed separately". However, in some instances the attachments remain filed with the OIC itself and will not be found separately in GR-1664.
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Digitized copies of Orders in Council from 1872 to the present are available on the BC Laws website: http://www.bclaws.ca/
Restrictions on access
There are no access restrictions.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Associated materials
For related records see:
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- GR-1664 Oversize attachments for Orders in Council (1874-1994)
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- GR-1955 Indexes to Orders in Council (1872-1984)
Accruals
Additional accruals are expected.
General note
Accession number(s): 76-G-043; 91-0472; M856048, 91-0472, 94-1119
Conservation
For preservation purposes, records in boxes 910472-0752 to -0818 were re-boxed when they were received by the Archives. As a result, researchers are encouraged to use the Archives' file list rather than any produced by the creating agency as the records may now be in different boxes.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- British Columbia. Executive Council (Subject)
- British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary (Subject)
- British Columbia. Lieutenant Governor (Subject)