The Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs was established in 1967 (SC 1967, c.16) and upon dissolution in 1993 many of its functions were transferred to the Department of Industry.The Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs was an "umbrella" organization which acquired functions from other departments, primarily Justice, Secretary of State, and the Registrar General. The duties, powers and functions of the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs extended to and included all matters over which the Parliament of Canada had jurisdiction, not by law assigned to any other department, branch or agency of the Government of Canada relating to: consumer affairs; corporations and corporate securities; combines, mergers, monopolies and restraint of trade; bankruptcies and insolvency; patents, copyrights, trade marks, and industrial design; standards of identity; and performance in relation to consumer goods; and legal metrology.

Fonds consists of records created and/or maintained by the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and its predecessors. Researchers are cautioned that unprocessed textual records and records in other media are not reflected in this description.