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The Department of Communications was established by the Department of Communications Act in 1969. It was responsible for fostering the orderly operation and development of communications in Canada. It was eliminated in 1993.
Powers and Functions
The powers and functions of the minister extended to telecommunications, national communications policy, broadcasting policy, radio and radar research, and actions necessary to secure the international rights of Canada in communications. The department was also responsible for satellite communications and support of the Canadian space industry.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Telefilm Canada (known as the Canadian Film Development Corporation until 1984), National Arts Centre Corporation, National Library of Canada, National Museums of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, National Film Board, the Space Program, Teleglobe Canada, Telesat Canada, and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission were among the agencies through which the department fulfilled its mandate.
Departmental restructuring in 1993 eliminated the department as a government entity, and many of its agencies and functions became the responsibility of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
