Much the same observations which apply to Series III, First Agricultural Ministry, bear on this series as well. It marks Whelan's second, and last, tenure of the portfolio, following the Trudeau Liberals' return to power in 1980. This is the second "bread-and-butter" fonds, which manifests Whelan's management of the agricultural department, the application of government policy and the delivery of it's programs, during the period 1980-1984. As with Series I, it can best be described in several blocs of records.
This series also has a file coding number system leading off each file title, to identify it's sequencing in Whelan's office according to the filing scheme used. It differs from the file scheme utilized to manage the records in the first series. These numbers have been retained simply because they were there, and give evidence of the original file control structure.
The first bloc consists of records of a general nature, as follows:
- residual
- associations-general
- political-general
- minister's personal (meetings, schedules, messages and travel, thank you's, congratulations and condolences)
- minster's office
- parliamentary
These records are the "prologue" type of papers. The "residual" (volumes 441-443) ties up things from the preceding ministry, loose ends, so to speak, and comprises a mixed bag of brochures, clippings, speeches and annual reports); the "associations" (volumes 443-444) and "political" (volumes 443-445) is general correspondence, and much of it of a cursory and congratulatory nature; the "minister's personal" (volumes 445-450) is also very much of a congratulatory run, as well as a reflection of all the small outreach that a minister does to his constituents and supporters, through notes and meetings, to evidence his concern for them. The "minister's office" (volume 451) files are demonstrative of how a minister staffs and runs his office. The "parliamentary" files (volumes 451-452) reflect the minister and his concerns with, and participation in, House affairs.
This second bloc of files begins to get into the minister's substantive area, management of the agricultural portfolio, but is still of a broad nature.
- Provincial-Federal-Local activities bearing on agriculture (volumes 452-455)
- Department of Agriculture's linkages with other Federal departments, by other departments listed in alpha order (volumes 456-488)
Next come the truly substantive agricultural ministry files (volume 488-595), dealing with programs and policy. All are designated "Agriculture Canada and Agencies" as the lead-in keyword element of all file title descriptions.
- (the ususal) "general" files (volumes 488-492)
- "policy, planning and economics" files run (volumes 493-507), addressing specific issues such as farm loan problems, international liaison, Far Creditors' Arrangement Act, and regional development
- health of animals (volumes 508-522), covering contagious diseases, livestock export, food product inspection, pesticides, quarantines and racetrack
- minister's departmental "information" services (volumes 523-525)
- departmental "personnel" (volumes 526-529)
- food marketing and inspection, fruits and vegetables (volumes 529-533)
- production and marketing, livestock (volumes 534-540)
- production and marketing, with a number of sub-categories: assistance programs, pesticides, twine, poultry, crop insurance and marketing services (540-554)
- Agriculture Canada research activity files (volumes 554-559)
- departmental boards - product board, stabilization board for hog prices, potatoes and red meat (volumes 559-564)
- Canadian Dairy Commission (volumes 564-567)
- Canadian Grain Commission (volumes 567-569)
- Canadian Livestock Feed Board (Crow Rates) (volumes 569-575)
- Farm Credit Corporation (volumes 575-582)
- National Farm Products Marketing Council (volumes 583-585)
- Canadian Egg Marketing Council, and marketing councils for chicken and potato (volumes 585-589)
- Prairie Farm Assistance Administration (volume 590)
- Canadian Agricultural Export Corporation (CANAGREX) (volumes 590-592)
- Prairie Farm Rehabilitation (volumes 593-595)
Then comes the final bloc of records in this series, "Minister's Personal" (volumes 595-610). While most of the above files are of a kind with files in the Agricultural Ministry I series, this bloc has no like counterpart in that series. It comprises volumes 595 to 611, a substantial bloc of 16 volumes.
Volumes 595 to 603, "general - invitations and meetings", consist of files on the minister's meetings with anyone and everyone, from the little people to important political and certain international players. Volumes 604 to 611 contain files with identified agencies, individuals, and events, such as - farmer's fairs, chambers of commerce, various agricultural boards and councils (including governmental), food and livestock associations, producer co-ops, farmers' organizations, international agencies (Pan Am Health Organization) and with representatives in / from other countries (New Zealand, Romania, Mexico, Russia).
A sample of a more-or-less common type of file found in both the major Agricultural Ministry series is File 8F0 "Agriculture Canada - Other Departments and Agencies - Finance Canada - Vol. 9, 1982", part 2 of a two-part file for 1982 , drawn from Volume 467.
The file consists of the following correspondence: with Mr. A.A. Jewell of the Vernon Fruit Union (Vernon, B.C.) Re: tax credits and allowances for co-ops; with J.H. Ahern of Manufacturers Life (Belleville, Ont) re: new measure concerning life insurance; with G.K. Johnson (Shaunavon, Sask) re: interest on loans for agricultural products; with E.J.V. Aanhout (of Regina, Sask) re: budgetary measure affecting life insurance; with J.R. Hipkin re: effect of budget on farmers; with J. Bennett, Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (of Willowdale, Ont)re: effect of budget on businesses; with R. Harkness re: taxation and interest on loans; with K.B. Inglis re: life insurance and taxation; with D.F. McMaster (of West Vancouver, B.C.) re: his concerns about New Energy Program; with Editor of The Western Producer and taxation of bonds as per the new budget, and effect on small businesses; with G.D. Baker (of Kitchener, Ont.) and "confusion" over budgetary measures of the government; with K. Patton (Nanton, Alta.), re: taxation issues in farm sale; with D.R. Merredew (of Kenora, Ont.) re: "socialist" economists preparing the government budget; with G.G. Rayworth (of Port Elgin, N.B), re: Small Business Development Bond; with D.A. Lusted (of Cawston, B.C.), re: Apple Stabilization Program in budget; with J. Clark (of Cabri, Sask.), re: dropping of Income Averaging Annuity Contract in recent budget; with S. Martin (of Leamington, Ont.), re: confusion in recent budget; with M.P. Zulynik (of Regina, Sask.), re: certain budgetary measure; with A.G. Dennis (of Winnipeg, Man.), re: new budget's impact on farming; and with L.G. Ecroyd (of Islington, Ont), re: effects of federal sales tax.
Most of the critique concerned the budget of December 1981, and the Liberals altered some of the measure which gave much offense to constituents.
