Fonds 310 - Northwest Territories. Department of Public Works and Services fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Northwest Territories. Department of Public Works and Services fonds

General material designation

  • Architectural drawing
  • Textual record
  • Graphic material

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Fonds

Reference code

310

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Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • [1957]-2014 (Creation)
    Creator
    Northwest Territories. Department of Public Works and Services (1994-2017)

Physical description area

Physical description

ca. 29,000 photographs : col. slides, prints, negatives
ca. 4.38 m of textual material
1 architectural drawing

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Archival description area

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Administrative history

The Department of Public Works and Services was formed in 1994 with the consolidation of the Department of Public Works and the Department of Government Services.

The Department of Public Works and Services is responsible for designing, constructing, acquiring, operating and maintaining Government of the Northwest Territories buildings, works and equipment and vehicles. The department provides many other services to government departments, boards and agencies, such as records management, computer operations and systems development. In addition, the department acts as a regulatory body for electrical, mechanical and gas systems and is responsible for the payment of utilities for government owned and leased buildings and works. Training programs in maintenance and operation of GNWT buildings, works and equipment and vehicles are offered by the Department of Public Works and Services. This department is also responsible for making essential petroleum projects available to communities not served by the private sector.

The Directorate includes the Policy and Planning Division, the Finance Division and the Deputy Minister's office at Headquarters. The Directorate is responsible for the senior management of the department, including managing human and financial resources, and providing overall direction and planning for the department. Activities such as policy making, personnel, staffing functions, financial administration, records management and internal computer services are part of the Directorate. This division is involved with northern and local training and facilitating employment and business development opportunities within departmental programs and services. Standards and procedures are developed and implemented by the Directorate for government-wide contracting and purchasing. In addition, this division delivered the Business Incentive Policy. The Directorate maintains communication with the private sector, other government departments, as well as with aboriginal and other interest groups.

The Project Management activity is responsible for the design and construction of all buildings and works for the Government of the Northwest Territories through its technical services and construction management divisions. This activity also delivered the Community Granular and Dust Control Programs through project officers located in each region. This program manages granular materials production within the communities and provides dust control for these communities. The Project Management Division provides local training, employment and business development opportunities in capital projects delivered by the Department of Public Works and Services. This division also facilitates the development and implementation of building standards. Between 1997-98, the Technical Services division provided facility planning services and building assessment services and administered the Community Granular Revolving Fund that was created to respond to the privatization of the Community Granular and Dust Control Program. In 1998-99, the Project Management activity assumed responsibility for the administration and regulation of electrical, elevator, boiler, and pressure vessel and gas safety from the Accommodation Services activity. In 1999-2000, the name of this division was changed from Project Management to the Technical Support Division.

The Accommodation Services activity is responsible for all aspects of property management for the Government of the Northwest Territories, including the administration of leased and owned office and staff accommodation across the Northwest Territories, and the disposal of surplus assets. This activity encouraged leasing of facilities from local owners in order to facilitate and support business development in the north. In 1994-95, the leasing and property management functions for GNWT staff housing were transferred to the NWT Housing Corporation. Consequently, Accommodation Services became responsible for providing property management of GNWT real property assets. In 1997-98, Accommodation Services was renamed Asset Management. The Safety Inspections Activity was part of Asset Management and involved the inspection of buildings and worksites and the review of plans to ensure compliance with building codes. This activity also has regulatory and administrative responsibilities for electrical, mechanical and gas systems. In 1998-99, the responsibilities for electrical, mechanical and gas systems were transferred to the Project Management activity.

The Buildings and Works activity was responsible for operating and maintaining buildings and works owned by the Government of the Northwest Territories based upon the Maintenance Management System. Transferring maintenance functions to communities through the Community Transfers Initiative was a major focus of this activity. In 1997-98, this activity amalgamated with the Safety Inspections activity and Accommodation Services to form the Asset Management Division.

The Vehicles and Equipment activity was responsible for the acquisition, operation, maintenance and replacement of GNWT vehicles and equipment, excluding Department of Transportation vehicles and equipment. Transferring vehicle maintenance functions to communities through the Community Transfers Initiative was a major focus of this activity. Between 1996-97, the vehicle pools in each regional and area centers were eliminated and the Asset Management Division assumed the responsibility for equipment maintenance.

The Utilities activity was responsible for the payment of heating and electrical costs and the cost of water, sewage and garbage collection services for GNWT owned and leased buildings and works. Between 1993-94, this activity was involved in the transfer of the Sanikiluaq power plant to the NWT Power Corporation. The responsibilities for the Utilities activity were transferred to the newly created Asset Management activity in 1997-98.

The Supply Services Activity is responsible for a wide variety of services to government departments. These include acquisition of materials and services, housing and distribution of common-use items, mail distribution, records storage/retrieval, marketing of surplus items and aircraft charter management. This division administers the Transportation Assistance Program. In 1996-97, the responsibility for acquiring publication and production services for government departments was assumed by this activity. This service had been delivered by the Systems and Communications activity. The Supply Service Activity was a party of the Community Transfer Initiative; consequently, responsibilities that were fulfilled by this activity were privatized in 1996-97.

The Operations activity was responsible for planning and coordinating the department's utilities, buildings and works, and vehicles and equipment maintenance programs. This includes the development of policies, procedures and standards and coordinating the provision of technical advice, providing assistance and training to maintenance staff within the Department of Public Works and Services and other GNWT departments. This activity operates and maintains GNWT buildings, works, vehicles and equipment based upon the Maintenance Management System. Between 1994-95, this activity was responsible for warehousing and distribution of common-use items, mail distribution, and aircraft charter maintenance. In 1996-97, the Operations activity focused on preparing program guidelines, user pay and community transfer initiatives for the Buildings and Works, Vehicles and Equipment, Utilities and Supply Services programs. Many of the responsibilities undertaken by these programs were assumed by the Asset Management activity or taken over by the private sector. The Operations activity ceased to exist in 1998.

The Publications and Production activity was responsible for the graphic design, publishing and still-photography needs of the Government of the Northwest Territories. This activity managed design, typesetting, forms, and printing services for all government departments and agencies and the Legislative Assembly, including production of publications, reports, legislation, regulations, the Territorial Gazette and a variety of booklets and brochures on government programs and services. The form management section designed and maintains all forms used by the government and coordinates the ordering of forms. The Publications and Production activity was transferred to the Systems and Communications activity in 1994-95. It was then transferred to the Supply Services Activity in 1996-97.

The Systems and Communication Services activity delivers specialized services related to computer systems development, mainframe operations, office automation services, voice/data communications and telecommunications. The systems section designs, develops and implements computer information systems and provides for upgrading and support for these systems after installation. The computer services section operates the government's mainframe computer facilities which house the information systems used by departments. The office automated systems section coordinates the acquisition of microcomputers and generic software packages. The telecommunication section provides services related to the administration of the government's telephone and data communication facilities. Between 1996-97, the funding for telecommunications was transferred to the departments. The Systems and Communications Activity continued to represent territorial and GNWT interests at regulatory hearings.

The Petroleum Products activity purchases, transports and stores petroleum products in communities not served by the private sector. The products are then sold to the residents of the community through a local contractor. This activity is involved in the planning and construction of fuel storage tanks and renovation projects to standing storage facilities, replacing unsafe tanks and ensuring the safety of the storage facilities.

Between 2000-2001, the programs and services delivered under the Technical Support Division which included the planning, design and construction of buildings throughout the NWT, as well as administration and regulation of electrical, elevator, boiler, pressure vessel and gas safety was absorbed by the Asset Management Division. The Technical Support Division ceased to exist at this time.

On April 1, 2017, the Department of Public Works and Services consolidated with the Department of Transportation to create the new Department of Infrastructure.

Custodial history

Scope and content

This fonds consists of approximately 29,000 photographs, 4.38 meters of textual material and one architectural drawing.

The photographs were taken, collected or purchased by the photographer for the Government of the Northwest Territories, who was employed by the Systems and Communications Division of the Department of Public Works and Services. The photographs are in slide, negative and print format and depict the following subjects: images of people, communities in the Northwest Territories, scenery, wildlife, traditional land use, hospitals, Royal Canadian Mounted Police buildings, schools, infrastructure of communities, water, air and land transportation, sports and recreation, hunting, fishing, traditional clothing, political leaders, government buildings, camps, mines, DEW line sites, events such as Arctic Winter Games, Expo '86, Canada Day, churches, airports, housing, dogsledding, fauna, arts and crafts and performing arts.

The architectural drawing is of Grollier Hall in Inuvik. It shows exterior views of the boys residence and dining hall and the girls residence and chapel. The drawing was produced for the Federal Department of Public Works and Services.

The textual records includes materials from the Minister's Office, the Directorate, the Corporate Services Division, Petroleum Products Division, the Asset Management Division, and the System and Communications Division.

Records from the Minister's Office include ministerial chronos.

Records from the Directorate include ministerial and deputy minister chronos, briefing notes, and briefing meeting material, as well as committee files on infrastructure development, drinking water management, and facility requirements post-division for the Government of Nunavut, reporting on activities related to land claims, records of workshops and conferences held by the department, and performance measurement reports.

Records from the Corporate Services Division include briefing notes, files from the Inter-departmental Committee on Capital Planning, records related to the Manuals Steering Committee, procedures for appeal hearings and filing grievances, Procedure and Guideline Manual revisions, newsletters, and an employee guide. There are also records from the Records Management section of Corporate Services, including policies and procedures of records services, Records Management Tips and Bulletins, administrative and operational manuals related to records management, meeting minutes of the Public Records Committee (PRC), Recorded Information Management Committee (RIMC) and one legal opinion file related to the retention of health records.

Records from the Petroleum Products Division include correspondence regarding the transfer of responsibilities of the petroleum products division to the NWT Power Corporation.

Records from the Asset Management Division include policy and reorganization files, records of the Project Management Conferences, and a Community Maintenance Management Survey.

Also included in this fonds are pamphlets on fire prevention in public buildings, technical evaluations of facilities, a guide on engineering practices in water and sewer systems, Office Space Standards and Guidelines, and files related to the Community Transfer Initiative.

Notes area

Physical condition

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Location of originals

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

Access restricted under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Finding aids

Finding aid available for a small portion of G-1995-001 (Tessa MacIntosh Collection)

Associated materials

Related materials

Accruals

Physical description

ca. 3.91 m of textual material ; 20,000 photographs : col. Slides, prints, negatives; 1 architectural drawing

Rights

Copyright held by GNWT and in some cases by individual photographers: see accession file for more details.

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Language of description

  • English

Script of description

  • Latin

Sources

Acquisition area