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Authority record
Corporate body · 1968-1986

The Provincial Forest Practices Improvement Board was established in 1968 under an amendment to the Forest Improvement Act. The mandate of the board, as set out in legislation in 1972, was to encourage better forest management practices in Nova Scotia through education, advocacy and enforcement of the Forest Improvement Act, to prepare a manual of good forestry practice, and to establish educational programs relating to forestry. However, key sections of the act giving the board wide powers to control tree cutting remained unproclaimed until December 1976. In 1980 the board published a manual, The Trees Around Us: A Manual of Good Forest Practice for Nova Scotia. In 1986, the board was replaced by the Nova Scotia Forestry Advisory Council.

Nova Scotia. Militia
Corporate body · 1753-1867

On 22 March 1753, Governor P.T. Hopson proclaimed the establishment of a militia in Nova Scotia. The first Militia Act was passed in 1758. In 1775, another Militia Act was passed which gave the Governor (and others) the authority to enlist volunteers. The act also covered the drafting of men by ballot for active service, penalties for non-compliance, pay, and deductions for clothing and supplies. The act was again revised in 1795 and 1821. By 1834 the militia totalled forty-one battalions. In 1859 the volunteer militia movement began and thirty volunteer companies were organized and officially recognized by 1860. By this time, however, it was clear that the provincial militia was ineffective as a professional military force. A special militia court was convened in 1865 and deliberated on measures to improve the militia. Two years later the Dominion of Canada assumed general responsibility for militia and defence.

Corporate body · 1944-

The Department of Public Welfare was created in 1944 to bring under the minister of public health all matters relating to social welfare, including family and children's services, public charities, old age pensions, mothers' allowances, children's aid societies, juvenile court and reform schools. In 1946 a separate minister of public welfare was appointed. In 1973 the department was renamed Social Services, and in 1987 Community Services. The department provides financial assistance to individuals and families whose income is insufficient to meet basic needs, and social services to those requiring assistance because of individual or family problems.

Corporate body · 1972-

The Nova Scotia Communications and Information Centre was established by legislation in 1972. The centre provided a centralized information service for all government departments, agencies, boards and commissions; the dissemination, communication, and transmission of information products within and outside the public service; an enquiry service for the general public covering government policies, programs, and services; information outlets making available government publications and information; and advice on the development of communications hardware systems. In 1980, the centre became the information services division of the newly created Department of Government Services.

Corporate body · 1968-

The Program Development Agency was established by Order in Council on 22 January 1968. The agency's primary role was to implement planned economic programs for Nova Scotia. It was responsible to a cabinet committee composed of the ministers of finance and economics, trade and industry, fisheries, and agriculture and marketing, as well as other ministers named by the president of the Executive Council. The agency undertook, appraised, and evaluated studies, reports, and plans relating to economic development; advised the cabinet committee on development strategies; prepared, organized, and implemented programs of economic development; and coordinated economic policy and development activities of the provincial government.

Corporate body · 1850-

The Board of Registration and Statistics was created by statute in 1850 and consisted of two members of the Executive Council and the Financial Secretary. Although authorized to produce an annual volume of provincial statistics and to commence a registration system of vital statistics, the board, until 1864, limited its activities to the censuses of 1851 and 1861. These censuses were undertaken throughout the British Empire and consisted of questions supplied by the Colonial Office and local authorities. Despite legislation requiring censuses every five years the board appears to have been dormant between 1851 and 1861.

Corporate body · 1789-1885

In 1789 Bishop Charles Inglis formed the first Central Board of Agriculture in Nova Scotia. In 1818 a revived central board (the Provincial Agriculture Society) was established, largely through the efforts of John Young, with himself as secretary. The purpose of the board was to encourage the growth and extension of local agricultural societies; study local agricultural conditions; publish and distribute agricultural information; offer premiums and grants for agricultural improvement; and import and distribute high-quality seeds, livestock and machinery. By 1825, at least twenty-seven local agricultural societies had been established. The House of Assembly did not renew the board's charter in 1826; however, it established a standing committee on agriculture in 1829. A new Central Board of Agriculture was established in 1841. This board had less control over local societies and in 1845 a new Agriculture Act gave them the right to incorporate. In 1858 the board was abolished again but, through the efforts of Alexander Forrester, was restored in 1864. In 1885 the board was replaced by the Department of Agriculture (later Agriculture and Marketing).

Corporate body · 1749-

In order to promote settlement in Nova Scotia, Governor Edward Cornwallis was directed in 1749 to make fee simple or absolute possession of land grants tax free for the first three years; thereafter an annual rent was to be paid. Later laws changed the regulations relating to the size of grants, quit rents, and taxation, and, at times, the sale of land took the place of free grants. In 1749 Charles Morris was appointed the first Surveyor General to administer the granting of land. The Surveyor General was responsible for surveying of the boundary lines of land grants, roads, and other lands and the preparation of maps and plans. Deputy surveyors were appointed for each district or county. In 1827 a Commissioner of Crown Lands was appointed to oversee the sale of crown land and in 1851 the commissioner absorbed the position of Surveyor General. A separate Commissioner of Crown Lands for Cape Breton existed until 1847, reporting directly to the Provincial Secretary. In 1877 the Attorney General became ex officio Commissioner of Crown Lands. In 1926 the Department of Lands and Forests was created, and the functions of the commissioner were transferred to the new department.

Corporate body · 1955-1996

In 1955 Public Works was established as a separate department, responsible for the construction of public buildings and the maintenance of government property and equipment. In 1980 Public Works assumed responsibility for government communications and information and was renamed Government Services. In 1992 the minister assumed formal responsibility for the Communications and Information Act and the department was renamed Supply and Services. The department was responsible for purchasing, tendering and supply services; publishing, communication services and Queen's Printer; environmental engineering, project management, design services and construction services; information technology policy and standards, network services, information technology services and records management; accommodation services, facilities management and insurance and risk management. In 1996 the department was broken up and its responsiblities distributed among the new Department of Transportation and Public Works, Communications Nova Scotia and the Technology and Science Secretariat.

Corporate body · 1904-1977

In 1904 the Department of Public Health replaced the Provincial Board of Health. At first under the Provincial Secretary, in 1930 the department acquired its own minister. In 1977 the department was reorganized and renamed Health. In 1987 the Department of Culture, Recreation and Fitness was dissolved, responsibility for fitness assumed by Department of Health and the department renamed Health and Fitness. In 1991 fitness was reassigned to the Sport and Recreation Commission and the name Department of Health restored. The organization and mandate of the department is set out in the Health Act. The department is responsible for all aspects of public health, including health services and insurance, health care institutions, health engineering, commmunity health services, psychiatric mental health and drug dependency rehabilitation.