Series documents most of Macdonald's 1962 to 1972 political work. It consists of subject files arranged according to the Energy Mines and Resources (EMR) subject classification system. A copy of the classification manual is in volume 143, file 100-1. Macdonald had became Minister of Energy Mines and Resources (EMR) in January 1972, and in 1973 after using the EMR records system for more than a year, Macdonald's office sorted his pre-EMR files (1962 - 1972) and rearranged most of them into this series using the EMR subject number system. Many of the early records that are not here have been gathered into the Toronto Issues and Elections series. This re-organized series was kept separate from his Energy Mines and Resources records, which were of course arranged by the same EMR system. This series consists of files chosen as likely to be of continuing use to Macdonald and additional material was often added to these files while he remained Minister.
The majority of files in the series document Toronto-related issues (subject 117) or departmental case files (subject 128). There are files on major development projects, including the Spadina Expressway, the Pickering Airport, and the Metrocentre, and major issues including social housing. Additional Toronto-related (subject 117) files are in the Minister of Finance series and in the Retained Political Papers series. The departmental case files (subject 128), arranged alphabetically by department, document Macdonald's actions on behalf of his constituents and Canadians in general. They also are the source for much information on his earlier political offices. For example, Macdonald's papers as Parliamentary Secretary for External Affairs are now in the 128-E1 subject files of this and later series arranged by the EMR subject numbers (vols 109 - 114, 163 - 164, and 240). An additional significant subject is Liberal Party policy and association files for 1963 - 1974 (subjects 152 through 159). The Toronto files demonstrate Macdonald's role as Minister responsible for Toronto, as well as his interest and involvement with issues affecting his constituency.
The series also includes some speaking engagement files of late 1972 - 1975 (subject 167), and conference files, predominantly 1973 and 1974 (subject 225) which often include copies of Macdonald's speeches. These records were created while Macdonald was Minister of EMR, but were filed here, not in the EMR series. An item level index to some of the correspondence in this series, particularly the files on speaking engagements (subject 167) and on conferences (subject 225), exists in the Energy Mines and Resources index cards, which are a sub-series in the Energy Mines and Resources series. The description of the Index Cards sub-series includes information on the cards' uses and limitations.
