The Department of Labour was established under Section 10 of the Conciliation Act of 1900 (63-64 Vict., c. 24 s. 10, 18 July 1900). It was mandated to collect, analyse and publish statistical and other information relating to labour conditions (the monthly Labour Gazette became the most prominent of these publications), and to appoint arbitrators and conciliators when asked to do so by the parties to a dispute.
Over time the responsibilities of the Department expanded. In 1919 the Department became responsible for Canada's relations with the International Labour Organization (ILO). In 1920 (jointly with the provinces) it became responsible for the Employment Service of Canada. In 1930 the Unemployment Relief Commission initially operated under the Minister of Labour. Responsibility for the Technical and Vocational Training Act of 1937 was given to the Department. During the Second World War the Department was responsible for all manpower phases of the mobilization of Canadians in the war effort. The National Selective Service, the Department of National War Services, the National Registration, the German prisoner-of-war camps in Canada and the employment of persons evacuated from British Columbia were all carried out under the direction of the Minister of Labour. As well, the Unemployment Insurance Commission (established in 1940) fell under the direction of the Department.
After the war the Department maintained its responsibilities for labour relations, employment, and workforce planning. The Department also became responsible for advising immigration authorities on which types of workers were needed in the Canadian economy. In 1954 the Department created the Women's Bureau, the first federal government unit to be devoted to the interests of women in the workforce.
In 1966, with the creation of the Departments of Manpower and Immigration and Regional Economic Expansion, the Department of Labour was relieved of some of its functions. Four Branches -- Civilian Rehabilitation, Manpower Consultative Services, Technical and Vocational Training, and the National Employment Service -- were transferred to the new Department. The Department of Labour retained responsibility for labour standards; the administration of the Canada Labour Code; industrial relations for industries under federal jurisdiction; international labour affairs; labour publications; and areas of accident prevention, workers' compensation, and women in the workplace.
In 1975 the Department was officially renamed Labour Canada and was reorganized into seven "groups": Policy Co-ordination, International and Provincial Relations, Research and Economic Development, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services, Administrative Policy and Services, Organization and Program Implementation, and Legal Services. At the same time, five regional headquarters were established at Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Moncton. In 1986 the office of the Fire Commissioner of Canada was transferred from the Department of Public Works to Labour Canada.
With minor modifications Labour Canada continued to operate within this structure until 1993. In November of that year, Human Resources Development Canada was created by government organizational changes, which was ratified in 1996 under the Department of Human Resources Development Act, (Elizabeth II, Ch. 11, H-5.8). All programs and services of Labour Canada were transferred to the new Department.
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