The Boom Years: 1946 - 1956

In the early part of its second decade, the Department of Transport had a lot of catching up to do.

During the Second World War, improvements to departmental facilities had been postponed unless required for safety reasons. Now, as the department and the country returned to peacetime operations, there was a huge job to be done to bring those facilities up to necessary levels of efficiency.

In 1946/47, contracts for construction and repair projects amounted to almost $8 million, nearly double the total for the previous year. By 1947/48, the annual outlay had risen to $31 million.

While forging ahead with the upgrading of existing facilities, the department was also assuming ownership and management of properties built or purchased in the war years, such as ships and airports.

The department's operational activities were also expanding to meet the post-war boom as well as the addition of the country's 10th province. The entry of Newfoundland into Confederation had a greater impact on the Department of Transport than on any other federal agency. The department assumed responsibility for all of Newfoundland's transportation facilities that fell within federal jurisdiction and more than 1,100 transferred employees.

Air / Marine / Employee Programs / Other Developments / Highlights