Legislative reports: Ontario.

The Ontario Legislative Assembly met until June 28, when it took its summer recess until September 24. During the 36 Sessional days of the second half of the Spring sitting, the House was extremely busy and ultimately passed 10 Government bills, 4 private members' public bills and 13 private bills.

Legislation passed included:

* Oak Ridges Moraine Protection Act, which put a 6-month freeze on development on the environmentally-sensitive Oak Ridges moraine, near Toronto. The freeze would allow the government in the interim to undertake a consultation leading to an action plan to protect those parts of the moraine that need protection.

* Government Efficiency Act, an omnibus bill to promote efficiency and improve government services to taxpayers.

* Ambulance Services Collective Bargaining Act, which ensures the provision of essential ambulance services in the event of a strike or lock-out.

* Homes for Retarded Persons Repeal Act, which, among other things, replaces the concepts of "retardation" and "developmental handicap" with the concept of "developmental disability".

* Stability and Excellence in Education Act, which, among other things, establishes professional learning requirements necessary for members of the Ontario College of Teachers to maintain their teaching certificates, and implements a mandatory re-certification program for teachers.

* Patient Restraints Minimization Act, which prohibits hospitals and facilities from restraining or confining patients or from using monitoring devices on them except in certain circumstances; encourages alternative methods; and requires the development of suitable policies in this regard.

Much of the Spring sitting was dominated by the government's controversial introduction of a tax credit for parents who pay tuition to send their children to independent (private or denominational) schools. The plan, announced in the May budget, proved highly contentious, with both opposition parties strongly against it. The budget bill which contained the tax credit provision was eventually referred to a legislative committee, which held hearings at Queen's Park and in a number of cities across the province. Meanwhile, the majority of each day's Question Period was consumed with questions about the tax credit.

The Government brought in a motion to time-allocate the bill and it was eventually passed by the House on the second-last day of the Spring sitting. The credit will begin at $700 per year and rise by like...