Department of Railways and Canals (Canada)

The Department of Railways and Canals is a former department of the Government of Canada. It had responsibility for the construction, operation, and maintenance of federal government-owned railways, as well as the operational responsibility for canals in Canada.

The department was created in 1879 by transferring several existing government operations, namely the Railway Branch of the Department of Public Works, and the operational responsibilities for canals which were administered by the government's Office of the Chief Engineer.

These components were reorganized into the Railway Branch and the Canal Branch, respectively. The Railway Branch was responsible for administering to the federally owned railways, namely the Intercolonial Railway of Canada and the Prince Edward Island Railway (at the time of the department's creation). The branch also provided a program of financial assistance to encourage new railway construction in the country. The Canal Branch administered Canada's canal system and undertook new construction as required.

One of the most powerful departments in early governments of the Dominion of Canada, it was amalgamated with the Department of Marine and the Civil Aviation Branch of the Department of National Defence in 1936 to form the Department of Transport.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Minister of Railways and Canals (Canada) — The portfolio of Minister of Railways and Canals was created by Statute 42 Victoria, c. 7, assented to May 15, 1879 and proclaimed in force May 20, 1879. The Minister was the member of the Canadian Cabinet responsible for the administration of… …   Wikipedia

  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada — Departments of the Government of Canada Fisheries and Oceans Pêches et Océans …   Wikipedia

  • Canals —    The earliest canal in Canada and in North America was that at Lachine, which dates back to the beginning of the eighteenth century. Between 1779 and 1783, lock canals were built by the Royal Engineers, at the Coteau and the Cascades, on the St …   The makers of Canada

  • cañada — /keuhn yah deuh, yad euh/, n. Chiefly Western U.S. 1. a dry riverbed. 2. a small, deep canyon. [1840 50; < Sp, equiv. to cañ(a) CANE + ada n. suffix] * * * Canada Introduction Canada Background: A land of vast distances and rich natural resources …   Universalium

  • Canada — /kan euh deuh/, n. a nation in N North America: a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. 29,123,194; 3,690,410 sq. mi. (9,558,160 sq. km). Cap.: Ottawa. * * * Canada Introduction Canada Background: A land of vast distances and rich natural… …   Universalium

  • Transport Canada — Departments of the Government of Canada Transport Transports …   Wikipedia

  • Halifax and Southwestern Railway — Reporting mark H SW Locale Nova Scotia, Canada Dates of …   Wikipedia

  • List of Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom Parliament, 1860-1879 — This is an incomplete list of Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for the years 1860 1879. For acts passed prior to 1707 see List of Acts of Parliament of the English Parliament and List of Acts of Parliament of the Scottish… …   Wikipedia

  • Economy of the People's Republic of China — Economies of Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau are administered separately from the rest of People s Republic of China. Therefore, the information below pertains only to mainland China unless specified otherwise. For the… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Statutory Instruments of the United Kingdom, 1995 — This is a complete list of all 1,872 Statutory Instruments published in the United Kingdom in the year 1995. NOTOC 1 100* National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 1995 S.I. 1995/1 * Plymouth… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”