| HISTORY/BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: | Dates of founding and/or dissolution:
The Department of Community and Occupational Health was founded by means of the passage and proclamation of The Department of Community and Occupational Health Act, 1986 c. D-13.5. The Department was dissolved in 1988.
Functional responsibility:
The Department had two principal areas of responsibility: public health programs (except hospitals and health care insurance programs) and workplace health and safety programs. The Department was also responsible for the province’s Vital Statistics program.
The Minister was responsible for the administration of the following acts:
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Act
- Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Foundation Act
- Blind or Deaf Persons’ Rights Act
- Blind Workers’ Compensation Act
- Change of Name Act
- Coal Mines Safety Act
- Dental Profession Act
- Department of Community and Occupational Health Act
- Emergency Medical Aid Act
- Family and Community Support Services Act
- M.L.A. Compensation Act
- M.S.I. Foundation Act
- Marriage Act
- Mental Health Act
- Nursing Service Act
- Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Public Health Act
- Quarries Regulation Act
- Radiation Protection Act
- Radiological Technicians Act
- Vital Statistics Act
- Workers’ Compensation Act
Predecessor and successor bodies:
The predecessors of the Department were the public health programs of the Department of Social Services and Community Health and the Workers’ Health, Safety and Compensation program under its Minister responsible.
In 1988, the two principal program areas of the Department of Community and Occupational Health were again separated and these functions were transferred to the re-created Department of Health and to the Minister responsible for Occupational Health and Safety and the Workers’ Compensation Board.
Administrative relationships:
The Department reported to the Legislative Assembly through the Minister of Community and Occupational Health. A number of semi-independent agencies reported either to the Minister or through him to the Legislative Assembly. These agencies included the Workers’ Compensation Board, Provincial Mental Health Advisory Council, Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, and Public Health Advisory and Appeal Board. More information on these agencies and their records held by the Provincial Archives of Alberta may be found in the sous-fonds descriptions of these agencies.
Administrative Structure:
The Department was composed of the following divisions:
- Family and Community Support Services: responsible for coordinating regional delivery of community-based programs through local Family and Community Support Services boards
- Mental Health: responsible for coordinating community based mental health services and operation of Out-Patient Clinics and Extended Care Centres in Claresholm, Raymond and Camrose
- Occupational Health & Safety: responsible for workplace health and safety programs, including preventive programs, site inspection, incident investigation, and establishment and enforcement of health and safety standards in the workplace
- Public Health: responsible for communicable disease control and epidemiology, environmental health, preventative and public health education programs, rehabilitation programs, and providing consultative services to Health Units delivering programs
- Human Resources: responsible for departmental personnel management
- Management Support: responsible for program planning, legislative services to the department, program evaluation and management audit
- Program Support: responsible for other support services to the department and the Vital Statistics program
Names of chief officers:
Minister of Community and Occupational Health:
James F. Dinning 1986-1988
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