collection RG25 - Premier's Office fonds

Zone du titre et de la mention de responsabilité

Titre propre

Premier's Office fonds

Dénomination générale des documents

  • Document textuel
  • Document iconographique

Titre parallèle

Compléments du titre

Mentions de responsabilité du titre

Notes du titre

  • Source du titre propre: Title based on provenance of the fonds

Niveau de description

collection

Code de référence

CA PCA RG25

Zone de l'édition

Mention d'édition

Mentions de responsabilité relatives à l'édition

Zone des précisions relatives à la catégorie de documents

Mention d'échelle (cartographique)

Mention de projection (cartographique)

Mention des coordonnées (cartographiques)

Mention d'échelle (architecturale)

Juridiction responsable et dénomination (philatélique)

Zone des dates de production

Date(s)

  • 1898-1992 (Production)
    Producteur
    Premier's Office

Zone de description matérielle

Description matérielle

97.85 m of textual records
87 photographs

Zone de la collection

Titre propre de la collection

Titres parallèles de la collection

Compléments du titre de la collection

Mention de responsabilité relative à la collection

Numérotation à l'intérieur de la collection

Note sur la collection

Zone de la description archivistique

Nom du producteur

Premier's Office

Notice biographique

The position of Premier of Prince Edward Island was established in 1851 as part of the reform package ushered in called "responsible government". George Coles was the first to serve as Premier, being commanded by His Excellency Lieutenant Governor Bannerman to form the new government. Previous to 1851 governance of the colony was conducted by the Governor, an Executive Council appointed by the Crown to advise and assist the Governor, and an elected Assembly. The choice of premier is now straightforward; the role is assumed by the leader of the political party which holds the majority of seats in the legislature.

Traditionally the premiership of the province has not been the reward of a glittering political career. Time in the office in the majority of cases has been brief and the remuneration has not conducive to making the post more than "a fascinating part-time job or as a stepping stone to something more permanent". In a few cases the Premier has used the office as a springboard to federal politics but a seat on the judiciary has been the preferred goal of many former premiers.

In his capacity as leader the Premier chooses the cabinet and may keep portfolios for himself, such as President of the Executive Council, or, if he is a lawyer, Attorney General. One of the most striking aspects of the premiership of such a small constituency has been the familiarity people have felt towards those holding the office; consequently people have not hesitated to communicate with the premier on any personal or policy issue which might be sorted with government intervention. Another important element of the premier's workload has involved communication with the federal government in Ottawa. Given the Island's small population and limited resources, negotiations for resources and services from Ottawa have been an ongoing element of the Premier's responsibilities.

Historique de la conservation

Présentation du contenu

This fonds contains the papers of Premiers Donald Farquharson, Arthur Peters, F. L. Haszard, H. James Palmer, John A. Mathieson, Aubin A. Arsenault, J. H. Bell, James D. Stewart, Albert C. Saunders, Walter M. Lea, W. J. P. MacMillan, Thane A. Campbell, J. Walter Jones, Alex W. Matheson, and Alex B. Campbell. The papers consist primarily of correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, arranged variously- chronologically, alphabetically, or by subject; any existing order was maintained. Most of the correspondence is professional although there is some personal material as well, particularly in the Farquharson and Alex B. Campbell material. There are also reports and memoranda scattered throughout. The correspondence documents the daily concerns which were brought to the attention of a premier: transportation, the availability of medical and social services for individuals in need, legal issues, military matters, immigration, employment or reference requests, and policy or electoral issues. In the cases of premiers who also served as the Attorney General there may also correspondence addressed to them in that capacity.

Zone des notes

Classement

Langue des documents

  • anglais

Écriture des documents

Localisation des originaux

Disponibilité d'autres formats

Restrictions d'accès

RESTRICTIONS APPLY ON PREMIERS PAPER FOR A PERIOD OF THIRTY YEARS. ALSO RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY TO SPECIFIC FILES WITHIN EACH SERIES. SEE FILE LISTINGS

Délais d'utilisation, de reproduction et de publication

PERMISSION FOR USE AND REPRODUCTION IS REQUIRED FROM THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES AND RECORDS OFFICE; QUESTIONS REGARDING COPYRIGHT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE USER

Instruments de recherche

SERIES AND SUB-SERIES DESCRIPTIONS, FILE LISTINGS, AND LIST OF PREMIERS AVAILABLE

Éléments associés

See also: Frank MacKinnon’s "The Government of Prince Edward Island" (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1951); Edward MacDonald’s "If You’re Stronghearted" (Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation, 2000); and Fred Driscoll’s “History and Politics of Prince Edward Island

Éléments reliés

Accroissements

Note générale

Records are located in Stack #11 and along the east and south walls beginning at the end of Stack #24 of the 4th floor storage area

Identifiant(s) alternatif(s)

Zone du numéro normalisé

Numéro normalisé

Points d'accès

Points d'accès lieux

Points d'accès Noms

Genre access points

Zone du contrôle

Identifiant de la description du document

Identifiant du service responsable de la description

Niveau de détail

Langue de la description

  • anglais

Langage d'écriture de la description

Zone des entrées

Personnes et organismes en relation

Lieux en relation

Related genres