(a) the supervision, control and direction of all matters relating to social services and social assistance generally which are within the legislative authority of the province, including matters relating to
(i) the welfare of children,
(ii) the adoption of children,
(iii) child day care,
(iv) the administration of all laws relating to the commission by young persons of offences within the jurisdiction of the province,
(v) residential facilities for the care of neglected, dependent, socially deprived, abused and handicapped children and adults,
(vi) the administration of public institutions or parts of public institutions for the care of disabled persons,
(vii) services for the care, support and guidance of physically, emotionally, mentally and socially handicapped and disadvantaged citizens of the province of all ages,
(viii) the identification of cases of economic hardship or deprivation and the prompt alleviation of economic hardship and deprivation by the provision of appropriate, publicly financed, material assistance, including the identification and alleviation with respect to aged and disabled persons,
(ix) the furnishing, in co-operation with other departments of the government of the province, of guidance to all recipients of the assistance referred to in subparagraph (viii) in their quest for opportunities of gainful employment and rehabilitation,
(x) programs for the prevention of abuses concerning matters referred to in subparagraphs (viii) and (ix),
(xi) programs for the prevention of abuse to children and adults, and
(xii) the administration, subject to the Public Service Rearrangements and Transfers of Duties Act, of the Acts set out in the Schedule and of all orders and regulations passed or made under those Acts and of those other Acts, orders and regulations that are designated by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council,
which are not, or in so far as they are not, by law or by order of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, assigned to another minister or department of the government;
(b) liaison and co-operation with
(i) the Government of Canada or a department, agency or body under the jurisdiction of that government,
(ii) the government of a province in Canada or a department, agency or body under the jurisdiction of the government of a province or under the jurisdiction of the government of this province, or
(iii) a corporation or other body or person
that may be necessary or desirable for carrying out the purpose of this Act;
(c) the undertaking, promotion or recommendation of measures for the development, control and direction of matters referred to in paragraph (a);
(d) the collection, compilation, analyzing and recording of statistical and other information relating to matters referred to in paragraph (a);
(e) the preparation and publication of statistics, reports, records, bulletins, pamphlets, circulars and other means of disseminating information in relation to matters referred to in paragraph (a);
(f) the study of, reporting on and advising upon the administration of matters referred to in paragraph (a);
(g) the consideration of and reporting upon a recommendation for a change in the laws of the province relating to matters referred to in paragraph (a) that is presented or made by an organization or person;
(h) the making of inquiries into and reports upon legislation respecting matters referred to in paragraph (a) in force in Canada and throughout the world and, on the basis of those inquiries and reports, making those recommendations that may be advisable with regard to the laws of the province;
(i) the doing of other things or the exercise of other powers that are necessary or desirable for carrying out the purpose of this Act; and
(j) the exercise and discharge of other powers, functions and duties that the Lieutenant-Governor in Council assigns to the minister.