This series consists of a variety of administrative files, subject files, briefing books and transition books created and used by staff of the Premier’s Office, Cabinet Operations and Cabinet Secretariat from 1970-1998. Files relate to office procedures, committees, legislation and various issues or topics being considered by the Premier’s Office.
This series includes a wide range of record types which were intermingled with Cabinet Committee files in GR-3676 and GR-3677. Some of the records likely overlap with or relate to these other series. Many subject files appear to have been used by Cabinet for informational purposes and may be related to Cabinet meetings or other Cabinet committee files in GR-3676.
Types of records are grouped together as they were found in their original boxes. These groupings are identified in the file list where possible. However, many groupings have no clear order within a single grouping or clear relationship to other groupings of records in this series. Original file lists provided by the Premiers Office listed most files as "miscellaneous." Common types of records include:
Subject files relate to a particular Ministry, committee, project or issue requiring consideration or approval by Cabinet. Records include Treasury Board and Cabinet submissions; memos sent by the Premier's Office to ministries regarding approvals; reports; correspondence; copies of articles; Orders-in-Council (OICs), mostly relating to appointments; reference materials from other jurisdictions to compare other government's structure and procedures; training materials and manuals for new staff and incoming Cabinet Committee members; and letters to the Director of Intergovernmental affairs to express concerns or to report on other Cabinet Committee activities. Ministry subject files relate to legislation and issues of a specific Ministry; they are generally arranged roughly by date and alphabetically by Ministry name. Other subject files generally have no clear order.
Administrative files from the Cabinet Secretariat regard policies, procedures, human resources material, and guidelines. Many procedure files outline the process for passing legislation and the role of various government functions and bodies. This also includes press releases, newspaper clippings, speeches and communication plans of Ann Newby, Director of Communications Branch for the Premiers Office. Administrative files are intermixed with subject files.
Records regarding the Premier’s official visits are primarily itineraries outlining the Premier’s, Cabinet’s or their delegation’s daily schedule during visits, as well as briefing books. The briefing books contain guests lists, biographies of people present, background notes, speaking notes, briefing notes, meeting agendas and talking points. Related briefing books, including constituency brief books, in this series pertain to regions in British Columbia and are intended to convey important information about issues that are specific and important to the people in those regions. They include local area profiles, economic and industrial overviews, contacts, statistics and summarized issues submitted by each Ministry and the Provincial Government’s position on these issues. The records are organized by visit and are typically titled using the location and date of the visit.
Records regarding the Office of the Ombudsman/Ombudsperson are subject files held by the Cabinet Secretariat. Records include Ombudsman special reports submitted to the Lieutenant Governor or Legislative Assembly regarding investigations into complaints made against the government; correspondence between the Ombudsman and members of Cabinet or the Cabinet Secretariat; and background materials related to reports. Many of the Files are related to issues with Workers Compensation Board claims. There are also files on other controversial topics such as the closure of Tranquille and logging on Shoal Island.
The series also contains transition books and briefing binders for the transfer of power after an election. These books provide information on existing government Ministries, including priorities, critical issues, overview of the Ministry, members of the executive council, parliamentary secretaries, acting minsters, and responsibilities for Crown Corporation, Boards, Commissions and agencies. Records for the newly elected Premier Glen Clark in 1996 include floppy disks.
There are records on the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) conference and Cabinet retreat planning records, 1985-1994.
There is also a group of records specifically related to Premier Bill Vander Zalm’s government restructuring plans from 1985-1991. This includes cabinet shuffles, and the regionalization of government which resulted in the appointment of Ministers of State for different regions of the province. Records include OICs appointments, procedures, legal opinions, correspondence, speeches, press releases, a 1991 speech from the throne, major policies issues and briefing notes showing the government’s priorities for ministries and constitutional issues resulting from the Meech Lake Accord.
Records in the series are covered by ORCS 10200-20 and 10400-20 of schedule 881099 (Office of the Premier and Executive Council) and were scheduled for full retention.
British Columbia. Office of the Premier