As with the other sub-series in this series, this collection of subject files spans three ministries and an acting presidency and cover the period predominately from 1963, when Allan J. MacEachen was appointed Minister of Labour and end in 1970, when MacEachen's tenure as Minister of Manpower and Immigration ends. As was MacEachen's office's practice, his staff would create a file classification system and would then use it for as long as it proved useful, regardless of where the file system resided in terms of his over-arching Ministerial responsibilities. In this particular sub-series, while the files were created when MacEachen was either Minister of Labour, Minister of National Health and Welfare, Minister of Manpower and Immigration or President of the Privy Council, all of the files end in 1970. While the date range overlaps with other subject file sub-series, the subject files here seem to be some sort of hybrid system, particularly focussing on subjects and topics relating to Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and MacEachen's home riding of Cape Breton Highlands - Canso and at the same time containing subject files for a wide range of government departments and agencies. These subject files complement but do not entirely duplicate other series of a similar vintage. There are two other elements to note. The first point to note is that the subject file classification system seems to be the same system that was first implemented when MacEachen was the Minister of Labour, assigning files in the 50 to 290 file number range. The other point to raise is that the subject file jackets in this sub-series were tabbed with either a blue or a red tab. It is no longer clear what the significance of these tabs was.
File subjects include many federal departments or agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, Labour and the Department of Public Works. In addition, there are files on buoys and contracts, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton and Inverness County, trips to Nova Scotia by the Minister, Minister's engagements and invitations, Centennial grants, Unemployment Insurance, forests and fisheries, the Liberal Leadership Conventions and elections.
