What Is 36th Legislative Assembly of Ontario

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 36th Legislative Assembly of Ontario convened from November 17, 1999, to September 19, 2003, following the 1999 provincial election. It was controlled by the Progressive Conservative Party under Premier Mike Harris and later Ernie Eves.

Key Facts

The 36th Assembly began on November 17, 1999, after the 1999 Ontario general election.
It consisted of 103 MPPs elected from across Ontario's ridings.
Premier Mike Harris led the Progressive Conservative government until April 14, 2002.
Ernie Eves succeeded Harris as Premier and led the Assembly until dissolution in 2003.
The Assembly was dissolved on September 19, 2003, ahead of the October 2003 election.

Overview

The 36th Legislative Assembly of Ontario marked a pivotal term in the province’s political landscape, spanning from November 17, 1999, to September 19, 2003. This session followed the 1999 provincial election, which re-elected the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party under Premier Mike Harris, continuing their 'Common Sense Revolution' agenda.

During this Assembly, significant legislative changes were enacted in areas such as healthcare, education, and public sector restructuring. The term saw a transition in leadership when Mike Harris stepped down and was succeeded by Ernie Eves in 2002, maintaining PC control until the next election.

First session began on November 17, 1999, following the general election held on June 3, 1999, which gave the PCs 59 of 103 seats.
Mike Harris served as Premier until April 14, 2002, when he resigned after two consecutive terms, citing personal reasons and political fatigue.
Ernie Eves became Premier on April 15, 2002, winning the PC leadership and continuing the government’s fiscal and policy direction.
The Assembly included 103 Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs), with the Liberal Party forming the Official Opposition with 39 seats.
The New Democratic Party (NDP) held only 9 seats, a significant drop from their previous standing, reflecting voter shift toward the PCs and Liberals.

How It Works

The Legislative Assembly of Ontario operates as the province’s law-making body, with each Assembly defined by the election cycle and duration of parliamentary sessions. The 36th Assembly functioned under standard parliamentary procedures, including bill introductions, debates, and committee reviews.

Term: The Assembly officially lasted from November 17, 1999, to September 19, 2003, a period of nearly four years, before being dissolved for the 2003 election.
Session structure: It included four formal sessions, with prorogation occurring between key legislative pushes, especially around budget announcements.
Bill passage: Over 100 bills were introduced, including major legislation like the Fewer School Boards Act, which reduced Ontario’s school boards from 130 to 36.
Committee work: Standing committees reviewed legislation in detail, with health, finance, and education receiving significant scrutiny during this term.
Debates and votes: Question Period occurred daily, and recorded divisions were used for close votes, ensuring transparency in decision-making.
Dissolution: Lieutenant Governor Hilary M. Weston dissolved the Assembly on September 19, 2003, triggering the October 2 provincial election.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 36th Assembly to adjacent terms highlights shifts in party dominance and legislative output.

Assembly	Years Active	Governing Party	Seats Held	Major Legislation
35th	1995–1999	Progressive Conservative	80 seats	Common Sense Revolution reforms
36th	1999–2003	Progressive Conservative	59 seats	Fewer School Boards Act, tax cuts
37th	2003–2007	Liberal	72 seats	Ontario Health Premium, gas tax
38th	2007–2011	Liberal	71 seats	Green Energy Act
39th	2011–2014	Liberal	53 seats	Hardest Hit Fund, pension reform

The table illustrates a transition from PC dominance in the 35th and 36th Assemblies to Liberal control starting in 2003. While the 36th Assembly had fewer PC seats than the 35th, it continued conservative fiscal policies, though with reduced public support evident in the 2003 election outcome.

Why It Matters

The 36th Legislative Assembly played a crucial role in shaping modern Ontario through lasting policy decisions and political transitions. Its legacy includes structural reforms and a shift in voter sentiment that led to a change in government.

School board amalgamation: The Fewer School Boards Act streamlined education governance, affecting over 2 million students across Ontario.
Fiscal restraint: The government maintained budget surpluses, reducing the provincial deficit by over $3 billion between 1999 and 2003.
Healthcare changes: Bill 130 expanded private clinics, sparking debate on public vs. private healthcare delivery.
Tax reduction: Personal income tax was cut by 30%, a key promise of the Harris government’s second term.
Public sector reform: Bill 100 restructured hydro governance, leading to the creation of Hydro One.
Political transition: The Harris-to-Eves handover tested party stability and influenced the 2003 election outcome.

Ultimately, the 36th Assembly represents a turning point where long-term conservative governance began to wane, setting the stage for Ontario’s political realignment in the 2000s.