The provincial secretary and registrar was originally the second highest position in the provincial cabinet, equivalent to the position of deputy premier. The provincial secretary was the equivalent of the former Canadian Cabinet position of Secretary of State for Canada. Like its federal counterpart it included an eclectic variety of responsibilities that were not assigned to other ministers, most of which would eventually evolve into portfolios of their own. The provincial secretary was also responsible for official communications between the provincial government and the Colonial Office in London as well as with other provincial and colonial governments (and after 1867 the federal government). As well, the position also included various duties related to ceremonial occasions, visits by dignitaries, protocol, relations between the government and the office of lieutenant governor and commemorative events particularly in relation to the monarchy.
Generally, the provincial secretary acted as a province's registrar-general and was responsible for formal documents and records such as licences, birth and death certificates, land registries and surveys, business registrations and writs. As well, the position was generally responsible for the administration of the civil service and of elections. Provincial secretaries were usually the most senior member of the provincial cabinet outside of the premier, and the office holder was often designated as acting premier when the premier was out of province, ill or otherwise unavailable. The last individual to hold the position of provincial secretary and registrar (renamed Provincial Secretary and Minister of Citizenship in 1961) was John Yaremko who left office in 1972.
In 1972 the Progressive Conservative government of Bill Davis adopted the provincial secretary title for a non-departmental cabinet portfolio in which the occupant either having responsibility spreading over several ministries, assisting a senior minister in an area or as a secondary portfolio for a senior minister giving him a broader responsibility or mandate area. The three positions created were provincial secretary for social development, provincial secretary for justice and provincial secretary for resource development. These positions were unrelated to the original provincial secretary position except for the common name. The positions were retained by Davis' successor, Frank Miller, in 1985 but were abolished when the Progressive Conservatives lost power to David Peterson's Liberals in 1985.
Pre-Confederation provincial secretary
Prior to Confederation and the creation of the office of premier, the provincial secretary was the most important and powerful figure in provincial politics. The title holder was appointed by the lieutenant governor and many sat as members of the Legislative Council.
In 1972 as part of a general administrative reorganization of the Government of Ontario, PremierBill Davis created three new Provincial Secretariats. With this reorganisation, the Ministries of the Government, with a few exceptions, were grouped into three common areas of interest called policy fields. The three policy fields established were the Justice Policy Field, the Social Development Policy Field and the Resources Development Policy Field.
Cabinet committees were established for each field, to be chaired by a provincial secretary given cabinet minister status, and to be responsible for co-ordinating and developing policies for the various Ministries which formed that policy field. In addition, Secretariats were established for each field in order to provide analytical and research support to the provincial secretaries and the Cabinet committees.
The provincial secretary for justice coordinated the ministries of Correctional Services, of Labour, of Consumer and Commercial Relations, the office of attorney general, and the office of solicitor general (and possibly of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and of Intergovernmental Affairs).
The provincial secretary for resources development coordinated the ministries of Agriculture and Food, of Transportation and Communications, of Natural Resources, of Northern Affairs, of Energy (and possibly of the Environment and of Industry and Trade).
The provincial secretary for social development coordinated the ministries of Education, of Colleges and Universities, of Community and Social Services, of Citizenship and Culture, of Health, and eventually of Skills Development (and possibly of Tourism and Recreation).
The chair of the Management Board of Cabinet probably coordinated the ministries of treasurer, of Revenue, and Government Services.
Premier Frank Miller continued with the practice of appointing provincial secretaries, but when David Peterson ascended to the premiership in 1985, the secretariats were terminated.
While Minister of Correctional Services August 30, 1979 – April 10, 1981 While Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations April 10, 1981 – February 13, 1982
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