This timeline includes all relevant statutes concerned with mental health issues in Ontario during the nineteenth century. It also includes additional information regarding:
• Templates of Admission Documents employed in the province for the civil procedure.
• Templates of Admission Documents employed in the province for the urgency procedure.
• Chronology for the construction of institutions in Ontario
• Name changes regulated by statutes for the institutions
• Superintendents of the Toronto Lunatic Asylum
• Number of admitted patients at the Toronto Lunatic Asylum over time
Click on the image for an interactive version.
The following table presents all statutes included in the previous Timeline in addition to other relevant legislation for the twentieth century.
Click on the Statute to Download the PDF version.
|
Year |
Reference |
PDF Link |
|
1839 |
Statutes of Upper Canada (1839) An Act to authorise the erection of an Asylum within this Province, for the reception of Insane and Lunatic persons, Chap. XI., 2nd Victoria, Fourth Session. |
1839 Erection of the Asylum |
|
1851 |
Bill No. 273 (1851) An Act to authorize the confinement of Lunatics, in cases where their being at large may be dangerous to the Public, Fourth Session, 3rd Parliament, 14 & 15 Victoria. |
1851 an act to authorize the confinement of lunatics in cases where their being at large may be dangerous to the public |
|
1853 |
Statutes of Upper Canada (1853) An Act for the better management of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum at Toronto, Chap. 188. |
1853 An Act for the Better Management of teh Provincial Lunatic Asylum (16 vict chapter 188) |
|
1859 |
Consolidated Statutes of Upper Canada (1859) An Act respecting the Provincial Lunatic Asylum at Toronto, Chap. LXXI. |
1859 Consolidated Statutes of Upper Canada |
|
1868 |
Statutes of Ontario (1868) An Act to Provide for the Inspection of Asylums, Hospitals, Common Gaols and Reformatories in this Province, Chap. XXI. |
1869 Act to Provide for the Inspection of Asylums, Hospitals, Common Gaols and Reformatories |
|
1869 |
Statutes of Ontario (1869) Ontario Medical Act, Chap. XLV. |
1868 Ontario Medical Act |
|
1869 |
Statutes of Ontario (1869) An Act respecting the prompt and summary administration of Criminal Justices in certain cases, Chap. XXXII. |
1869 An Act respecting the prompt and summary administration of Criminal Justices in certain cases |
|
1871 |
Statutes of Ontario (1871) An Act respecting Asylums for the Insane, Chap. XVIII. |
1871 Act respecting Asylums for the Insane |
|
1871 |
Statutes of Ontario (1871) An Act to Provide for the Establishment and Government of a Central Prison for the Province of Ontario, Chap. XVII. |
1871 Act to Provide for the Establishment and Government of a Central Prison for the Province of Ontario |
|
1871 |
Statutes of Ontario (1871) The Pharmacy Act, Chap. XXXIV. |
1871 Pharmacy Act |
|
1873 |
Statutes of Ontario (1873) An Act respecting institutions for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind in the Province of Ontario, Chap. XXXII. |
1873 Act respecting Institutions for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind in the Province of Ontario |
|
1873 |
Statutes of Ontario (1873) An Act to Provide for the Establishment of an Hospital for the Reclamation and Cure of Habitual Drunkards, Chap. XXXIII. |
1873 Act to Provide for the Establishment of an Hospital for the Reclamation and Cure of Habitual Drunkards |
|
1873 |
Statutes of Ontario (1873) An Act to make further Provision as to the Custody of Insane Persons, Chap. XXXI. |
1873 An Act to make further provision as to the Custody of Insane Persons (36 vict chapter 31) |
|
1874 |
Statutes of Ontario (1874) Act to Declare of What Lunatics the Inspector of Public Asylums Is the Committee, Chap. XIV. |
1874 Act to Declare of What Lunatics the Inspector of Public Asylums Is the Committee |
|
1875 |
Statutes of Ontario (1875) An Act to make further provision for the Insane, Chap. XX. |
1875 An Act to make further provision for the Insane |
|
1877 |
Revised Statutes of Ontario (1877) An Act respecting Lunatic Asylums and the Custody of Insane Persons, Chap. 220. [The attached document also includes other legislation regarding public charities in the province]. |
1877 Revised Statutes of Ontario |
|
1878 |
Statutes of Ontario (1878) Act to Provide for Employing Persons without the Walls of Common Gaols, Chap. 24. |
1878 Act to Provide for Employing Persons without the Walls of Common Gaols |
|
1880 |
Statutes of Ontario (1880) Act respecting the Ontario Reformatory for Boys, Chap. 34. |
1880 Act respecting the Ontario Reformatory for Boys |
|
1880 |
Statutes of Ontario (1880) Act respecting the Removal of Persons from County Gaols to Provincial Institutions, Chap. 35. |
1880 Act respecting the Removal of Persons from County Gaols to Provincial Institutions |
|
1880 |
Statutes of Ontario (1880) Act respecting the Support of Destitute Insane Persons, Chap. 26. |
1880 Act respecting the Support of Destitute Insane Persons |
|
1880 |
Statutes of Ontario (1880) Act to Make Further Provisions respecting the Estates of Persons Confined in Asylums for the Insane, Chap. 36. |
1880 Act to Make Further Provisions respecting the Estates of Persons Confined in Asylums for the Insane |
|
1881 |
Statutes of Ontario (1881) Act to Make Further Provision respecting the Central Prison, the Andrew Mercer, Ontario, Reformatory for Females, and the Industrial Refuge for Girls, Chap. 32. |
1881 Reformatory for Females, and the Industrial Refuge for Girls |
|
1882 |
Statutes of Ontario (1882) An Act to amend the Act respecting Lunatic Asylums and the Custody of Insane Persons, Chap. 32. |
1882 Act to Amend the Act respecting the Lunatic Asylums and the Custody of Insane Persons |
|
1883 |
Statutes of Ontario (1883) Act respecting Private Asylums for Insane Persons and Inebriates, Chap. 28. |
1883 Act respecting Private Asylums for Insane Persons and Inebriates |
|
1883 |
Statutes of Ontario (1883) Act respecting the Office of Inspector of Prisons and Public Charities, and respecting Persons Committed as Lunatics, Chap. 30. |
1883 Act respecting the Office of Inspector of Prisons and Public Charities, and respecting Persons Committed as Lunatics |
|
1885 |
Statutes of Ontario (1869) An Act respecting the study of Anatomy, Chap. 30. |
1885 Act respecting the Study of Anatomy |
|
1885 |
Statutes of Ontario (1885) Act to Make Further Provision respecting Private Asylums for Insane Persons, Chap. 53. |
1885 Act to Make Further Provision respecting Private Asylums for Insane Persons |
|
1885 |
Statutes of Ontario (1885) The Public Health Act, Chap. 45. |
1885 Public Health Act |
|
1886 |
Statutes of Ontario (1886) Act to Amend the Act respecting Private Lunatic Asylums, Chap. 50. |
1886 Act to Amend the Act respecting Private Lunatic Asylums |
|
1886 |
Statutes of Ontario (1886) Act to Amend the Act to Establish an Industrial Refuge for Girls, Chap. 49. |
1886 Act to Amend the Act to Establish an Industrial Refuge for Girls |
|
1886 |
Statutes of Ontario (1886) Act to Make Further Provision regarding the Public Health, Chap. 42. |
1886 Act to Make Further Provision regarding the Public Health |
|
1887 |
Revised Statutes of Ontario (1887) An Act Respecting Lunatic Asylums and the Custody of Insane Persons, Chap. 245. [The attached document also includes other legislation regarding public charities in the province]. |
1887 Revised Statutes of Ontario |
|
1887 |
Statutes of Ontario (1887) Act to Amend the Ontario Medical Act, Chap. 24. |
1887 Act to Amend the Ontario Medical Act |
|
1890 |
Statutes of Ontario (1890) Act to Amend the Act respecting Private Lunatic Asylums, Chap. 77. |
1890 Act to Amend the Act respecting Private Lunatic Asylums |
|
1893 |
Statutes of Ontario (1893) Act respecting the Erection of the New Provincial Lunatic Asylum at Brockville, Chap. 54. |
1893 Act respecting the Erection of the New Provincial Lunatic Asylum at Brockville |
|
1893 |
Statutes of Ontario (1893) Act to Amend the Act respecting Private Lunatic Asylums, Chap. 55. |
1893 Act to Amend the Act respecting Private Lunatic Asylums |
|
1897 |
Revised Statutes of Ontario (1897) An Act Respecting Lunatic Asylums and the Custody of Insane Persons, Chap. 317. |
1897 Revised Statutes of Ontario |
|
1914 |
Revised Statutes of Ontario (1914) An Act respecting Provincial Hospitals for the Insane and the Custody of Insane Persons, Chap. 295. |
1914 Revised Statutes of Ontario |
|
1937 |
Revised Statutes of Ontario (1937) The Mental Hospitals Act, Chap. 392. |
1937 Revised Statutes |
|
1950 |
Revised Statutes of Ontario (1950) The Mental Hospitals Act, Chap. 229. |
1950 Revised Statutes of Ontario |
|
1960 |
Revised Statutes of Ontario (1960) The Mental Hospitals Act, Chap. 236. |
1960 Revised Statutes of Ontario |
|
1970 |
Revised Statutes of Ontario (1970) The Mental Health Act, Chap. 269. |
1970 Revised Statutes of Ontario |
|
1980 |
Revised Statutes of Ontario (1980) The Mental Health Act, Chap. 262. |
1980 Revised Statutes of Ontario |
|
1990 |
Revised Statutes of Ontario (1990) The Mental Health Act, Chap. M. 7. |
1990 Revised Statutes of Ontario |
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