Showing 19 results

Archival description
British Columbia. Dept. of Municipal Affairs
Print preview View:

2 results with digital objects Show results with digital objects

Municipal Affairs sound recordings

  • GR-3431
  • Series
  • 1972

This series includes recordings of public hearings related to an application for land use contract, Gabriola Wildwood Estates Ltd. in 1972.

British Columbia. Dept. of Municipal Affairs

Metropolitan Joint Committee and related records

In 1957, Hugo Ray was appointed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs to chair the Metropolitan Joint Committee (MJC). This Committee was charged with investigating and reporting on the pros and cons of unifying administration and services of eleven municipalities (Burnaby, Coquitlam, Fraser Mills, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Vancouver, West Vancouver) in the Greater Vancouver area.

The records consist of Ray's files as Chairman of the MJC, a copy of the Committee's final report, correspondence, some minutes, briefs to the Minister and to the MJC, membership lists, speeches and source material for speeches. Also included are copies of reports and studies prepared for lower mainland municipalities which addressed topics of interest to the MJC.

Ray, Arthur Hugo, 1903-1962

Municipal Affairs executive records

  • GR-0239
  • Series
  • 1964-1967

The series consists of correspondence in and out of the Minister of Municipal Affairs, D.R.J. Campbell, between 1964 and 1967. The records are grouped by year and arranged alphabetically within each year.

British Columbia. Dept. of Municipal Affairs. Office of the Minister

Dan Campbell interview

CALL NUMBER: T3717:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early years in politics, 1956-1960 PERIOD COVERED: 1926-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dan Campbell discusses his personal and family background. Education and military experience. Pursuit of a teaching career. Supported the C.C.F. as a young man. Moved to Courtenay in 1950 and taught school. Served as president of the local teachers' association. First impressions of Social Credit. Meeting W.A.C. Bennett, 1953. Decision to run as a Social Credit candidate in the 1956 election. Recollection of the 1956 election campaign. Memories of election night. Comments on the Comox constituency. Orientation as a new MLA and maiden speech in the Legislature. Anecdote about W.A.C. Bennett being too hard on Bob Strachan. Recollection of Strachan as Leader of Opposition. First impressions of caucus. Voted against the government on one occasion. The role of caucus. TRACK 2: Reflections on the Sommers affair. Attitude of the Socred caucus toward the Sommers case. Sommers' weaknesses. Campbell complemented his income as an MLA by part-time teaching. Attitude towards labour and organized labour in B.C. Right-to-work proposals. Labour and politics. Ambitions as an MLA. The role of an MLA. The 1960 provincial election and the issue of the take-over of the B.C. Electric Company. The reasons for the take-over. W.A.C. Bennett's methods of discipline over party ranks. Interests and service on committees as an MLA. CALL NUMBER: T3717:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Cabinet minister in the government of W.A.C. Bennett PERIOD COVERED: 1960-1966 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dan Campbell discusses the Columbia River Treaty and the Two River Policy, and how they were understood by members of caucus. Appointment to cabinet as Minister of Municipal Affairs, 1964. Reasons for his appointment. Effect of becoming a cabinet minister. Relationship with ministerial staff. Policy-making and government. Daily duties as Minister of Municipal Affairs. Conditions in the ministry at the time he took it over. Re-organization and expansion of the ministry. The image of the government as an anti-metropolitan administration. The creation of instant towns on Vancouver Island. The genesis of regional districts. The organization of regional districts. Arguments against regional districts. Appointment as Minister of Social Welfare, 1966. Reasons for the appointment. Comments on dual-portfolio ministers. Comments on bringing the three female members of the Socred caucus into cabinet as ministers without portfolio. TRACK 2: The role of a minister without portfolio. Ways decisions in government were made. W.A.C. Bennett was not a one-man government. The experience of guiding estimates through the House as minister. Campbell enjoyed getting the Opposition excited. The process of Treasury Board. Appearing before the Treasury Board. W.A.C. Bennett as Minister of Finance. Special committees of cabinet. Legislative reform. Attitude towards instituting a daily question ;period and Hansard in the House. The misuse of legislative committees. Comparison between W.A.C. Bennett's style of government and "modern" government. W.A.C. Bennett as environmentalist. W.A.C. Bennett's influence on Campbell's political style. CALL NUMBER: T3717:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Aspects of politics and government, 1960-1972 PERIOD COVERED: 1966-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dan Campbell discusses the organization of the Social Credit Party and its relationship with the government during the years when W.A.C. Bennett was Premier. The role of an annual party convention. Relationship between the provincial and federal wings of the Social Credit Party. Campbell opposed a convention resolution that would have separated coterminous membership in the provincial and federal branches of the Socred Party. Comments on the dream of Socred success at the federal level in the early '60s. Recollection of the contest for the leadership of the federal Social Credit Party between Real Caouette and Robert Thompson. Reasons for the federal party's failure. Religion and politics. Bennett as a man of the cloth. Anecdote about lawyers. Social Credit and populism and anti-intellectualism. Relations with the press. Federal-provincial relations when he was a Minister of the Crown. Attending federal-provincial conferences with Bennett. Attitude towards such conferences. Main issues as Minister of Social Welfare. Comments on Phil Gaglardi being brought back into the cabinet in 1969 as Minister of Social Welfare. Loyalty as a weakness of Bennett's. Campbell threatened to resign over the Gaglardi affair. TRACK 2: Dan Campbell as a champion of native rights in B.C. and service as Chairman of the First Citizens' Fund. The effect of Robert Bonner's resignation from the ;cabinet, 1968. Bonner's role in Bennett's government. Administering the Job Opportunities Program and friction with Gaglardi. Reasons why Campbell received responsibility for the program. Further comments on Gaglardi and reasons for tension between him and Campbell. Gaglardi would not have won a leadership contest in the party. The question of succession to the leadership of the Social Credit Party after Bennett. Attitude toward the Opposition and the Opposition leaders he served against. Objections to socialism. Polarization and coalition politics in B.C. The 1972 travelling cabinet tour. CALL NUMBER: T3717:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): B.C. politics, 1972-1975 PERIOD COVERED: 1972-1979 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dan Campbell discusses the 1972 provincial election campaign. Differences between the campaign and previous elections. The ban on advertising of liquor and tobacco as a factor in the election. Comments on Comox constituency. Gaglardi's indiscretions and their effect on the outcome of the election. Election night in Comox. Reaction to the election and personal plans immediately afterwards. Serving with W.A.C. Bennett as an administrative assistant after the election. W.A.C. Bennett's strengths and weaknesses. Reasons why W.A.C. Bennett asked him and Grace McCarthy to help rebuild and party after the 1972 election. Comments on the plan to rebuild the party. Different roles played in the rebuilding process. The legislative arm of the Social Credit Party after the 1972 election. Asking the MLAs to sign statements of allegiance to Social Credit. Comments on the efforts to form an alternative free enterprise coalition to Social Credit: the majority movement or unity party. The goals; of the majority movement. Comments on W.A.C. Bennett dissuading backers of the majority movement from their efforts. Travelling with W.A.C. Bennett and Grace McCarthy throughout the province, reorganizing and revitalizing the Social Credit Party. Factors in the great interest which was shown in the party after the 1972 election. Recollection of "Uncle Bill" Dale. TRACK 2: Continuation of recollection of "Uncle Bill" Dale. Criticisms of NDP government 1972-1975. Comments on Bill Bennett and how he got elected in 1975. Robert Bonner and the majority movement. Social Credit as the only possible vehicle for uniting the free enterprise forces in British Columbia. W.A.C. Bennett and Bill Bennett. General comments and comparison between the government under W.A.C. Bennett and Bill Bennett. (End of interview)

Correspondence relating to regional districts

  • GR-0240
  • Series
  • 1965-1971

The series consists of correspondence between the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Daniel Campbell, and various regional districts between 1965 and 1971.

The files are arranged alphabetically and include correspondence, reports and other material relating to regional district matters.

British Columbia. Dept. of Municipal Affairs. Office of the Minister

Municipal Affairs executive records

  • GR-0238
  • Series
  • 1953-1964

The series consists of correspondence inward and outward, created by the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Wesley Black, between 1953 and 1964.

British Columbia. Dept. of Municipal Affairs. Office of the Minister

Improvement district letters patent and bylaw register files

  • GR-3978
  • Series
  • 1922 - 2011

The series consists of improvement district letters patent and bylaw register files, 1922-2011. These records document the creation and dissolution of improvement districts, the approval and registration of their bylaws, and provincial government advice and support. Letters patent are the legal instruments for incorporating improvement districts in BC. They establish the name, boundary, services, voting procedures, and other fundamental aspects of each improvement district. Supplementary letters patent cover changes to improvement district boundaries, services, or the number of trustees. Improvement districts were initially created under the Water Act (SBC 1914, c. 81) to provide water and irrigation services to their residents. From 1914 to 1979, administrative responsibility for most improvement districts resided with the Office of the Comptroller of Water Rights (Water Rights Branch). In 1956, responsibility for improvement districts that provided fire protection came under the Dept. of Municipal Affairs, 1934-1976. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs (1978-1986) assumed administrative responsibility for all improvement districts in 1979 with the enactment of the Municipal Act (RSBC 1979, c. 290). This administrative responsibility continues under the Local Government Act (RSBC 2015, c. 1) with the following ministries: Municipal Affairs and Transit, 1986; Municipal Affairs, 1986-1988; Municipal Affairs, Recreation, and Culture, 1988-1991; Municipal Affairs, Recreation, and Housing, 1991-1993; Municipal Affairs, 1993-1996; Municipal Affairs and Housing,1996-1998; Municipal Affairs, 1998-2001; Community, Aboriginal, and Women’s Services, 2001-2005; Community Services, 2005-2008; and Community Development, 2008-2009. Regional districts, introduced in 1965, provide many of the services once provided by improvement districts so new improvement districts will not likely be created. All improvement district bylaws are filed with the ministry and some require registration with the Inspector of Municipalities before taking effect. Others do not require registration, taking effect upon adoption by the trustees of the improvement district.

The records include correspondence, indexes, letters patent and supplementary letters patent, orders in council, approval certificates, and maps. They are arranged alphabetically by improvement district name; some of the records also contain an improvement district number and code. The records were classified under 52000-40 (improvement district letters patent files) of the Local Government Services ORCS, 2006 (schedule 126379).

British Columbia. Water Rights Branch

Various reports from Department of Municipal Affairs

  • GR-0395
  • Series
  • 1936-1954

This series consists of various reports from Department of Municipal Affairs, including, a report of the Board of Arbitration established under the Residence and Responsibility Act (1936), including correspondence of the Board pertaining to cases arbitrated; report of the Commission of Inquiry into Educational Financing (Cameron Report, 1945) and correspondence of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs relating to educational costs in various municipalities; correspondence, minutes of meetings, and draft legislation respecting airport zoning, correspondence and reports on annual proceedings (1949-1953) of the B.C. Aviation Council.

British Columbia. Dept. of Municipal Affairs. Office of the Minister

Roderick Charles MacDonald interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): R.C. MacDonald RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977-03-26 SUMMARY: NOTE: Roderick Charles MacDonald came to Canada in 1907 and was first employed by the provincial government at New Westminster. From 1922 to 1941, he served on the municipal council of Coquitlam, serving as Reeve for eighteen of those twenty years. In 1941, he was elected to represent Dewdney as a [Conservative] Coalition candidate, and remained in the provincial legislature until the dissolution of the Coalition Government in 1952. During his tenure as MLA he served, 1946-1952, as Minister of Mines and Minister of Municipal Affairs. [No content summaries or documentation available for this interview.]

Regional and local government structure historical policy files

  • GR-3972
  • Series
  • 1912 - 1999

The series consists of records documenting the creation of regional and local government structures and policies, and subsequent amendments to these structures and policies. Many of the records were created during the development of the province’s regional and local government system starting with the Dept. of Municipal Affairs in 1934. Prior to this, municipal matters were administered by a municipal branch of the Dept. of the Attorney-General. The records were the responsibility of the following: Dept. of Municipal Affairs,1934-1976; Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 1976-1978; Ministry of Municipal Affairs, 1978-1986; Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Transit, 1986; Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Recreation, and Culture, 1988-1991; Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Recreation, and Housing, 1991-1993; Ministry of Municipal Affairs, 1993-1996; Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 1996-1998; and Ministry of Municipal Affairs, 1998-2001. The records cover the formation of regional districts, the role of regional district boards, and regional district services reviews by the provincial government. They also cover regional planning and other related issues such as land use for park purposes and subdivisions, refuse and sewage disposal, air quality/pollution, public transportation, fire protection, taxation, cost-sharing between different levels of government, property tax, and other financial matters. The records also include bylaw approvals, letters patent, supplementary letters patent, and amendments to electoral areas. The records were created under the Local Services Act (RSBC 1996, c. 276) and the Local Government Act (RSBC 1996, c. 323).

The records are arranged by regional district name and regional district coding system or by topic. They consist of correspondence, minutes and agendas, reports, maps, bylaws, letters patent, news clippings, and contracts. They were initially regional district day to day operational files so were also assigned bylaw advice and approvals ORCS numbers (51030, 51040) from the Local Government Services ORCS, 2006. The function of these records changed when the program area started collecting and using them as regional and local government structure historical policy files. This artificial collection was eventually classified as policy and procedures files (55000-00), reflecting the final purpose of this record series.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Attorney-General

Christopher Woodward interview

SUMMARY: Christopher Woodward of the Dept. of Municipal Affairs discusses "instant towns" in British Columbia, including how they are created by resource companies, community planning, the provision of utilities and services such as cemeteries, financing, restrictions, etc.

Note: As of 2012, there is no audio recording available for this item. There is only a transcript and summary available.

Provincial Secretary correspondence with municipalities

  • GR-0566
  • Series
  • 1911-1937

This series consists of Provincial Secretary correspondence with municipalities, 1911-1937. Records include correspondence inward with copies of replies from cities, towns, villages, and municipalities. Files deal with a variety of topics, such as local by-laws, amendments to the Municipal Act, transfers of Crown lands, urban development and unemployment relief. Records are arranged alphabetically by relevant city or municipality.

For most of the period covered by these records, municipal affairs were the responsibility of the Municipal Branch of the Department of the Attorney General (1914-1933) and the Department of Municipal Affairs (1934). The Provincial Secretary's department, however, always served as conduit between provincial municipalities and various levels of government.

British Columbia. Dept. of the Provincial Secretary