Before joining the PMO in April 1970, Joyce Fairbairn served as a reporter in the Parliamentary Press Gallery (1962-1970).
Fairbairn joined the PMO in April 1970 as Special Assistant, working in the office of Ivan Head. She was appointed Legislative Assistant, September 1970, and Senior Legislative Advisor, 1983-1984. She assumed additional duties, for a period in 1982, as Coordinator in the Communications Section.
From a document entitled "PMO Tasks, 1983-1984," Fairbairn's duties included:
-To support the Government's efforts to forge a much improved relationship between Cabinet and Caucus and to mobilize Caucus for political recovery
-To develop a House strategy and coordinate schedules with House Leader and prepare the Prime Minister for Question Period
The sub-series consists of a mixture of memorandum and correspondence with attached clippings, including memorandum to the Prime Minister; statistics and roster of ministerial attendance during question period; briefing material that was used to answer questions and/or to devise answers to potential questions in the House of Commons, and election campaign materials.
The main groups of files in this sub-series include:
House of Commons Briefing Material (Volumes 219-258)
These files are arranged according to the various parliaments and sessions for which they were created; the files begin with the 28th Parliament and end with the 32nd Parliament. There are several types of files found in this group. The major type is Areas of Possible Questioning which are arranged chronologically. These confidential reports to the Prime Minister outlined possible issues which could be raised in the House of Commons and for which the Prime Minister required briefing. The reports contained a synopsis of what had been in the press, concerns or statements expressed by government officials, conflict of interest allegations by the opposition, carry over of previous House business or questions, and general briefing material. Along with these confidential reports are found clippings, letters and notes from Members of Parliament, statements of government policy from various departments and individuals, correspondence from heads of state, additional memorandum from PMO staff, and any other additional information required for the briefing of the Prime Minister. Many sensitive issues are discussed in these files, for example, Mandate of the R.C.M.P. (November 1977), American hostages in Tehran (January 1981), and Patriation of the Constitution (February 1981).
There are also subject files for each Parliament. These files contain information on issues which could be raised in the House and often supplement the information found in the Areas of Possible Questioning files.
Security Files (Volumes 258-259)
These subject files, according to a memo sent by Joyce Fairbairn to the newly defeated Prime Minister, were identified as Security Files for easier access by Mr. Trudeau while he was Leader of the Opposition. Staff of the Leader of the Opposition would not enjoy the same access to sensitive government material as they did as staff of the Prime Minister. To avoid difficulties and to ensure that no breach of security occurred, Fairbairn segregated these files and identified them as files for Mr. Trudeau's use. The majority of the documents found in this group are of a sensitive or secret nature. Most of the files are case files relating to different individuals, organizations and events that were being investigated between 1970 and 1978. The documents themselves are mostly memorandum from Fairbairn or from other individuals/offices to Fairbairn. These files reflect Fairbairn's role in briefing the Prime Minister on issues and questions raised in the House of Commons.
Leader of the Opposition Files (Volumes 260-261)
This group of files were accumulated by Joyce Fairbairn while Mr. Trudeau was Leader of the Opposition, 1979-1980. Fairbairn's position as advisor to Mr. Trudeau is still apparent during the opposition period, but she also appears to have taken on the role of liaison. These files contain material on Mr. Trudeau's role as Leader of the Liberal Party and include correspondence with party supporters, members of the party, and Mr. Trudeau's constituents. There is also documentation on the organization of Parliamentary Advisory Groups.
Election Campaigns (Volumes 262-265)
The election campaigns of 1972, 1974, 1979, and 1980 are documented in these files. Fairbairn takes a straight-forward approach in reviewing the issues touched on by the other party leaders, outlining the Liberal strategy and evaluating that strategy, and reviewing the press perception of the campaigns. In the 1980 campaign material, there are also individual files of briefing material for Mr. Trudeau's campaign trips.
Post-Election (Volumes 266-267)
Post-Election files for the 1972 election concern the Liberal Party strategy for the future, and party positions. Post Election files for the 1980 election, consist mostly of correspondence and memorandum.
Ministerial Travel (Volumes 267-269)
Members of Parliament were to advise the Prime Minister of their absences for the House of Commons. Ministerial Travel files contain proposed travel plans, formal requests and confirmations of travel plans from Cabinet Ministers.
Correspondence and Memorandum (Volumes 269-278)
The correspondence and memorandum files consist of routine office correspondence addressed to the Prime Minister or the PMO; correspondence written on behalf of the Prime Minister; correspondence to Members of Parliament; personal correspondence to and from Joyce Fairbairn; briefing memorandums to the Prime Minister from Joyce Fairbairn and her assistant Ruth Derrick, as well as, other PMO staff and individuals; and memorandum to or from Joyce Fairbairn.
Miscellaneous correspondence with the Prime Minister, June 1984, includes personal notes of appreciation to Mr. Trudeau as he retires from the position of Prime Minister.
Memorandum for the Prime Minister contains material which is marked as having been viewed by the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister's Office (PMO) (Volume 278)
These files pertain to the staff and administration of the PMO.
The Joyce Fairbairn Staff sub-series contains materials which are unique to her, even though similar documents could be found in other series, such as, the Ivan Head Staff sub-series.
