Alberta. Ministry of Labour

Alberta. Ministry of Labour

<em>Dates of founding and/or dissolution</em>: The Ministry of Labour was first founded in 1959 by means of the passage and proclamation of <em>The Department of Labour Act</em>, 1959 c. 42. In 1972, the Department was dissolved. The Department of Labour was re-created in 1975 by means of the passage and proclamation of <em>The Department of Manpower and Labour Amendment Act</em>, 1975 (2nd), c. 14. The department was dissolved again May 26, 1999. <em>Functional responsibility</em>: The Department of Labour was responsible for the administration of provincial government programs regarding labour-management relations, conditions of employment, apprenticeship training and certification, the accreditation of trade schools and employment agencies, the safe construction and operation of elevators and fixed conveyances, electrical, gas and plumbing installations, and pressure vessels, the enforcement of laws and regulations regarding fire safety, the inspection and licensing of theatres and public halls, the examination and licensing of film projectionists, the registration of professional and occupational associations, consumer protection, oversight of the Workers' Compensation Board, and the maintenance and protection of human rights in Alberta. In 1979, responsibility for workplace safety and oversight of the Workers' Compensation Board was transferred to the Minister responsible for Workers' Health, Safety and Compensation. The Board was transferred back to the Department of Labour in 1993. In 1981, responsibility for inspection and licensing of theatres and public halls and for the examination and licensing of film projectionists was transferred to the joint administration of the Provincial Treasurer and the Minister of Culture. In late 1992, responsibility for the registration of professional and occupational associations and the Professions and Occupations Bureau was transferred to the Department. In 1995, the Department delegated responsibility for the administration and delivery of safety programs related to boilers and pressure vessels to the Alberta Boilers Safety Association, a non-profit organization registered under the <em>Societies Act </em>. Also in 1995, the Department delegated responsibility for the administration and delivery of safety programs related to petroleum storage tanks as required under the Alberta Fire Code to the Petroleum Tank Management Association of Alberta, a non-profit organization registered under the <em>Societies Act</em>. In 1996, the Department delegated responsibility for administration of safety programs related to elevating devices and amusement rides to the Alberta Elevating Devices and Amusement Rides Safety Association, a non-profit organization registered under the <em>Societies Act</em>. Also in 1996, the Department delegated responsibility for administration of safety programs related to propane powered vehicles to the Alberta Propane Vehicle Administration Organization, an organization incorporated under the <em>Business Corporations Act</em>. In 1998, the agency headed by the Minister of Labour was renamed the Ministry of Labour. The principal component of the Ministry was the Department of Labour, which continued to be responsible for the planning, development, administration and delivery of programs under its mandate. The Ministry also contained the Workers Compensation Board, the Workers' Compensation Board Appeal Commission, the Occupational Health and Safety Council, the Safety Codes Council, the Council on Professions and Occupations, and the Health Disciplines Board. The Minister of Labour was responsible for the administration of the following acts. General: <em>Department of Labour Act</em>, <em>Department of Manpower and Labour Act</em>, <em>Government Organization Act</em>, Schedule 10, <em>Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act </em>(1997-1999), <em>Public Service Act</em>(1986-1992 only), <em>Alberta Advisory Council on Women's Issues Act </em>(1989-1992 only), <em>Women's Secretariat Act</em> (1989-1992 only);Labour-management relations and conditions of employment: <em>Alberta Labour Act</em>, 1973, <em>Burial of the Dead Act</em> (1984-1999 only), <em>Employment Pension Plans Act</em>, <em>Employment Standards Act</em>, <em>Employment Standards Code</em>, <em>Firefighters and Policemen Labour Relations Act</em>, <em>Health Services Continuation Act</em>, <em>Industrial Wages Security Act</em>, <em>Labour Relations Act</em>, <em>Labour Relations Code</em>, <em>Pension Benefits Act</em>, <em>Police Officers' Collective Bargaining Act</em>, <em>Public Service Employee Relations Act</em> (1993-1999 only);Worker's compensation: <em>Blind Worker's Compensation Act</em> (to 1979, 1993-1999 only), <em>Blind Workmen's Compensation Act</em>, <em>M.L.A. Compensation Act </em>(to 1979, 1993-1999 only), <em>Workers' Compensation Act</em> (to 1979, 1993-1999 only);Apprenticeship training and certification: <em>Apprenticeship Act</em> (1959-1972 only), <em>Trade Schools Regulation Act</em> (1959-1972 only);Certification of employment agencies: <em>Employment Agencies Act</em> (to 1976 only);Workplace and public safety: <em>Alberta Uniform Building Standards Act</em>, <em>Amusements Act</em>;(sections relating to amusement licensing and taxes, inspection of facilities, and licensing of projectionists, to 1981 only), <em>Atomic Energy Control Act</em> (Canada), <em>Factories Act </em>, <em>Boilers and Pressure Vessels Act</em>, <em>Boilers and Pressure Vessels Act</em>, 1975; <em>Electrical Protection Act </em>, <em>Elevators and Fixed Conveyances Act</em>, <em>Fire Prevention Act</em>, <em>Gas Protection Act</em>, <em>Lightning Rod Act</em>, <em>Occupational Health and Safety Act</em> (1976-1979, 1993-1999 only), <em> Plumbing and Drainage Act</em>, <em>Public Health Act</em> (relating to the Industrial Health Services Division: section 7, subsection (1), clauses 28 and 50; section 7, subsections (2) and (3), and sections 44, 50, and 51), <em>Radiation Protection Act </em>(1975-79, 1993-1999 only), <em>Radiological Technicians Act</em> (Part 2 only, 1975-1979, 1986-1999 only), <em>Safety Codes Act</em>. Professions and occupations: <em>Certified General Accountants Act</em>(1988-1989, 1992-1999 only),;<em>Certified Management Accountants Act </em>(1988-1989, 1992-1999 only), <em>Chartered Accountants Act </em>(1988-1989, 1992-1999 only); <em>Chiropractic Profession Act </em>(1987-1989, 1992-1999 only), <em>Dental Disciplines Act </em>(1992-1999 only), <em>Dental Mechanics Act </em>(1992-1999 only), <em>Forestry Profession Act </em>(1987-1989, 1992-1999 only)<em>Health Disciplines Act </em>(1992-1999 only), <em>Occupational Therapy Profession Act</em> (1992-1999 only), <em>Opticians Act </em>(1992-1999 only), <em>Pharmaceutical Association Act </em>(1992-1999 only), <em>Podiatry Act </em>(1992-1999 only),;<em>Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act </em>(1992-1999 only), <em>Psychology Profession Act </em>(1987-1989, 1992-1999 only), <em>Social Workers Act </em>(1992-1999 only). Human rights protection: <em>Human Rights Act </em>(from 1968), Provincial Human Rights Code, <em>Individual's Rights Protection Act </em>(to 1993 only);Consumer protection: <em>Consumer Affairs Act </em>(1971-1972 only);<em>Predecessor and successor bodies</em>: The first predecessor of the Department of Labour was the Department of Industries and Labour. Between 1972 and 1975, the functions of the Department of Labour were the responsibility of the Department of Manpower and Labour. After the dissolution of the Ministry of Labour in 1999, its programs formed one of the principal components of the new Ministry of Human Resources and Employment. Administrative relationships: The Ministry of Labour reported to the Legislative Assembly through the Minister of Labour. As well, a number of semi-independent agencies reported either to the Minister or through him to the Legislative Assembly. These agencies included the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board, the Alberta Human Rights Commission, the Women's Secretariat, the Alberta Advisory Council on Women's Issues, the Labour Relations Board, the Public Service Employee Relations Board, the Personnel Administration Office, the Health Disciplines Board, the Registrar of Registered Professional and Occupational Associations, the Alberta Building Standards Council, the Fire Prevention Council, the Safety Codes Council, the Occupational Health and Safety Council, Workers' Compensation Board, and the Workers' Compensation Board Appeals Commission. Information on these agencies may be found in their respective sous-fonds descriptions. <em>Administrative structure</em>: Until 1991, the following branches were responsible for administering the various programs of the Department. Labour force research: Labour Research Section (Labour Research and Immigration Division), Service Research (Planning Secretariat), Labour Research Branch;Planning and program development: Planning Secretariat, Labour Management Services, Research and Planning Branch;Industrial relations: Board of Industrial Relations, Labour Relations Branch, Conciliation and Mediation Services, Mediation Services Branch;Labour standards creation and enforcement: Board of Industrial Relations, Labour Standards Branch, Employment Standards Branch;Pension benefits programs registration and supervision: Pension Benefits Branch;Apprenticeship training and certification: Apprenticeship and Tradesmen's Qualification Branch;Trade schools regulation: Trade Schools Regulation Branch;Employment offices regulation: Board of Industrial Relations;Building standards enforcement: Building Standards Branch;Boiler and pressure vessel inspection: Boilers Branch;Electrical inspection: Electrical Protection Branch;Elevators and fixe