The office of Secretary of State for the Provinces was abolished and the office of Minister of the Interior was created by Statute 36 Victoria, c. 4, assented to May 3, 1873 and proclaimed in force July 1, 1873. By this Act the Minister was to be ex officio the Superintendent- General of Indian Affairs. He held the office until October 16, 1883. Statute 46 Victoria, c. 6, assented to May 25, 1883, provided for the Minister of the Interior, or the head of any other department appointed for that purpose by the Governor in Council, to be ex officio the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs. The Minister of the Interior was ex officio Superintendent-General from October 3, 1887 to June 18, 1930 and from August 7, 1930 until its abolition on November 30, 1936. The Minister of the Interior was also designated ex officio the Minister of Mines from March 30, 1912 to February 9, 1913, and also from December 31, 1919 to August 6, 1930.
This portfolio was not specifically created by statute, but was recognized by the Salaries Act (Statute 31 Victoria, c. 33) assented to May 22, 1868. By Order in Council dated December 8, 1869, pursuant to section 40 of Statute 31 Victoria, c. 42, assented to May 22, 1868, the duties and powers of the Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, previously held by the Secretary of State of Canada, were transferred to the Secretary of State for the Provinces and were exercised by him until June 30, 1873.
The offices of Minister of Immigration and Colonization, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Mines and Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs were abolished and the office of Minister of Mines and Resources was created by Statute 1 Edward VIII, c. 33, assented to June 23, 1936 and proclaimed in force December 1, 1936.