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This series consists of a brief of the Mining Association of British Columbia to the premier and cabinet.

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.

This series consists of eight pages of correspondence regarding subjects arising from the convention held at Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., September 23, 24 and 25, 1946 to be submitted to the Hon. the Premier and the Cabinet by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

This series consists of correspondence inward to the Premier's office and the Minister of Education with respect to the Independent Schools Support Act (Bill 33), 1977. Under this legislation limited government funding was made available to private schools. Letters to the Premier dealing with this topic were forwarded to the Minister of Education for reply. Some responses are included. Records supporting the Bill were received from the Catholic Women's League, churches, and school districts. Records in opposition to the Bill include petitions, and letters from labour groups, school districts, teacher's associations and women's groups.

Estimates book of William Richards Bennett (MLA) for the year ending 31 March 1975. The book contains printed estimates plus rough drafts of comments on the estimates and questions to be asked in Parliament, and some newspaper cuttings.

This series contains the minute book of the Executive Council for the period 29 November 1916 to 19 January 1917.

This series consists of records of the Executive Council, 1859-1913. Records include minutes of Colonial and Provincial Executive Council, ministerial reports, State Books, orders-in-council, registers, and indices (1859-1913), along with petitions, dispatches, and correspondence inward to Lieutenant- Governor in Council (1871-1909).

The Executive Council papers are among the most important of the early provincial government records held by the B.C. Archives. The value of the papers stems from the fact that the Council itself is the most important and influential level of government in the province. It is at the Executive Council level that government policies and regulations are discussed, formulated, and implemented; it is at this level that decisions are made regarding the overall running of the province. During the the period covered by GR-0444, it was also the responsibility of the Executive Council to handle the many contentious issues which affected Dominion-Provincial and Imperial-Provincial relations.

The Executive Council received and considered virtually all of the dispatches sent to the Lieutenant-Governor from Ottawa or London. Most of the petitions and memorials submitted by individuals or groups in the province to the Lieutenant-Governor were considered by the Council, too. In addition, the Executive Council dealt with correspondence from private citizens, as well as reports emanating from government ministries, departments, and agencies. In short, the Executive Council dealt with a myriad of issues - as is evidenced by the volume, range, and diversity of the papers in this record group.

Since the cabinet is the executive arm of the government, it has the authority to enact regulations, as defined by the Regulations Act (RS 1979 c. 361), Regulations, so defined, include rules, orders, proclamations, and bylaws of a legislative nature, made under or by the authority of any act passed by the legislative assembly. Among the regulations are Orders-in-Council which are formally described as "official documents promulgating Government decisions concerned with the day-to-day operation of the Province. Researchers consulting GR-0444 should note that Orders-in-Council are made under the authority of the Lieutenant-Governor or, more precisely, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council. The latter implies the Lieutenant Governor acting by and with the advice of, or by and with the advice and consent or in conjunction with, the Executive Council" (Interpretation Act, RS 1979, c.206). Thus, the term "Lieutenant-Governor in Council" occurs frequently with reference to business conducted by what is otherwise known as the Executive Council, or cabinet.

The record consists of a bound volume guestbook created for the open house at the Parliament buildings in Victoria, B.C. to mark the swearing-in of Premier Mike Harcourt and the executive council on November 5, 1991. Visitors to the event signed the guestbook with their names, addresses and the occasional comment.

The fonds consists of photographs and other records from 1908 to ca. 1995, created or collected by Jim Ryan in the course of his career as a photographer. There are approximately 105,738 photographs, mostly black and white and colour negatives, but also including prints, slides and glass slides. The fonds also includes textual records consisting of news stories, copies of Ryan's publications, a few letters and other such material. The majority of the photographs were taken in the Victoria area and include images of the harbour, the city, buildings, events and parks. There are many photographs of British Columbia politicians, notably W.A.C. Bennett, as well as distinguished visitors, federal and local politicians. There are also photographs of local characters, children and ordinary people. Although most of the photographs were taken in the Victoria area, there are occasional images taken in other areas of Vancouver Island as well as some of Ryan's travel photographs. Some of the earliest material relates to World War I and may be Ryan family photographs or items that Ryan collected out of interest.

The fonds also includes motion picture film material, including completed films, production elements, news stories shot for television, and selected reels of footage.

This series consists of papers of the Lieutenant-Governors of British Columbia. Includes transcripts of telegrams between Victoria and Ottawa, letterbook copies of official despatches outward (1871-1881), despatches inward from Governor General, Secretary of State, and Senior Naval Officer, Esquimalt (1871-1918), along with official correspondence from British Columbia government ministries and departments (1874-1919). Also includes miscellaneous, general, and semi- official correspondence inward, addresses, petitions, and memorials, (1872-1936). Records have been organized into five sub-series:

Letterbook copies of official correspondence outward (1896-1919) are on microfilm. Volume 5 (Feb - Dec 1902) and Volume 17 (1915) were missing at the time of filming. Date ranges correspond to the microfilm box labels.

Correspondence Inward: Despatches from the Canadian Government Secretary of State for the Provinces. Official correspondence from the Dominion of Canada to the Province of British Columbia. Files include minutes and reports of Privy Council, memoranda from the Colonial Secretary (London), and other government correspondence relating to British Columbia.

Miscellaneous correspondence inward. Variously entitled "All & Sundry", and "Tout le Monde", files include communications from Colonial Secretary (London) federal and provincial government officials, British consulates and embassies, and Lieutenant Governors of other provinces. Correspondence also includes petitions, memorials, and addresses, letters from private persons and circulars.

General Correspondence inward (I): Unlike volumes 58-65 above, general correspondence files include official despatches from Secretary of State, Ottawa, with official communications from BC government ministries and departments. Files include replies to correspondents.

General Correspondence (II) - Subject Files

This series contains papers relating to the Government Committee on ship-building. The committee was formed by Premier Sir Richard McBride in 1915, after considerable lobbying on the part of shipyards, lumber interests, and local Boards of Trade. The committee was chaired by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. Charles E. Tisdall. In January 1916 the committee issued a circular letter asking ship-owners, builders, brokers, etc. their views as to the best means of developing a merchant marine. The committee received a large number of replies, offering advice on the costs of construction, hull designs, the merits of wooden vs. steel ships, marine engine types, government subsidies, and related issues. The government subsequently introduced the B.C. Shipping Act [BCS, 1916, c. 57] which established the B.C. Shipping Commission, an agency authorized to provide loans, subsidies, and other assistance to the marine industry. The act was repealed in 1922.

The fonds consists of letterpress copies of outgoing correspondence and inward correspondence of Robert Beaven, including records pertaining to his estate.

The fonds consists of addresses, membership tickets, school copy books and miscellaneous correspondence. Fonds also includes a diploma from the College of Puget Sound granting him the degree of Doctor of Laws, 1932 and an oversized certificate commemorating his appointment as Minister of Agriculture, 1933.

The fonds consists of private and official correspondence and papers, notebooks of facts and figures on B.C., financial statistics, insurance policies and miscellaneous papers and photographs relating to honours and appointments. Fonds also includes clipping books, photograph albums, wallets and diaries, railway passes, a souvenir autograph booklet, a welcome home certificate signed by the officials of the Municipality of Coquitlam [MS-0347 also available on microfilm], and two oversized certificates commemorating his advancement to third degree masonry with the Free and Accepted Masons of B.C and upon the opening of Lord Selkirk School from the Municipality of South Vancouver.

Transcript of a public meeting regarding the Timber Royalty Act of 1914, held at the Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C., 3 September 1924, between John Oliver, Premier, T.D. Pattullo, Minister of Lands, A.M. Manson, Minister of Labour and representatives of the lumber industry.

Fonds consists of two scrapbooks of newspaper clippings kept while a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and a 1955 certificate and diploma awarded by the Academic Council and Senate of the American International Academy.