In 1916, the Department of Public Highways of Ontario was formed and took on the responsibility of establishing provincial highways. On April 1, 1937, the Department of Northern Development was created and merged with the Department of Highways of Ontario. In 1971, the Department of Highways assumed the responsibility for Communications, which prompted it to be renamed as the Ministry of Transportation and Communications in 1972. It later became the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario in 1987.