The Department of Labour was established in 1932 in response to the employment crisis provoked by the Great Depression. It was initially responsible for the Minimum Wage Board, employment services office, and supervisor of unemployment relief. Subsequently it acquired responsibility for occupational health and safety, industrial relations, labour standards, fire prevention and protection, labour research and pay equity. In 1980 the department assumed responsibility for labour market programs and occupational training and its name was changed to Labour and Manpower. In 1985 responsibility for manpower and occupational training was transferred to the Department of Human Resources Development and Training (later Advanced Education and Job Training) and the department resumed the name Department of Labour. In 2000 the department was abolished and its functions transferred to the new Department of Environment and Labour.