The Ontario election got underway in earnest on Wednesday as party leaders officially launched a campaign that has already seen promises made, accusations raised and insults hurled.
Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty visited Lt.-Gov. David Onley at Queen's Park on Wednesday and formally asked for the dissolution of the legislature, setting in motion the race to form the province's next government.
"We had a good conversation," McGuinty told reporters as he exited from his meeting with Onley. "Now I am going to have an even more important conversation with the people of Ontario."
McGuinty is seeking his third straight majority, while Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath will attempt to rally enough support to unseat the current premier.
Hudak opened the first official day of campaigning by highlighting promises to lower household bills, guarantee services like health care and education and boost job creation.
On Wednesday afternoon, Hudak told reporters in Toronto that he's committed to a publicly funded and universal health-care system.
"The way to improve access to our health-care system is to make the right investments in long-term care, in home care and we'll make sure we have a public, universally accessible system," Hudak said.
The Tories have promised to pump an extra $6.1 billion into health care over four years and scrap the province's 14 regional health agencies to save cash.
However, groups like the Ontario Health Coalition are skeptical of the Conservative platform, suggesting that Hudak rule out new fees or private clinics.
Meanwhile at a rally in Mississauga attended by Mayor Hazel McCallion, McGuinty said that the Progressive Conservatives will drive up property taxes across Ontario.
The Liberal leader says his party will upload an additional $500 million previously downloaded onto municipalities by the Tories. Hudak says if he's elected on Oct. 6, the Tories wouldn't upload the costs.
McGuinty also attacked Hudak's opposition to a tax credit aimed at helping immigrants land their first job. The Liberal leaders said Hudak has "jettisoned his principles, abandoned his values in an effort to play some kind of small politics."
A recent Nanos poll says the election's most important issue is health care, followed by jobs and the economy and high taxes.
Hudak, who has painted McGuinty as a financial burden on Ontario families, hit the campaign trail on Wednesday to visit ridings in Ottawa, Colbourne and Brockville. The Niagara West – Glanbrook MPP is running in his first election as party leader.
Horwath meantime launched her first campaign as party leader by promising to run a clean campaign focused on the issues.
"I am concerned about the cynicism that has seeped into politics recently. It is all too easy to be cynical about elections; the smears, the attack ads and the name calling," Horwath told reporters. "They are all designed to turn people off. And the sad thing is all too often it works."
Horwath told a news conference at Queen's Park that her party could be trusted to handle the province's economy, despite what some see as financial mismanagement under the province's last NDP government in the 90s.
Heading into the election, the Liberals held 70 seats in the 107-seat legislature, while the PCs held 24 and the NDP held 10. Three seats are currently vacant. About 8.5 million voters will be eligible to cast a ballot on Oct. 6.
Polling suggests Hudak's Tories hold a slight edge over McGuinty's Liberals.
The latest Nanos Research poll for CTV and The Globe and Mail suggests the Tories sit at 35.4 per cent support while the Liberals have 31.9 per cent and the NDP have 22.8 per cent.
Another 10 parties are officially registered in the election, but it is expected the three main parties will determine who forms the next government.
While the election officially began Wednesday morning, the three party leaders have been stumping for votes for more than a week.
A series of attacks and accusations were launched on Tuesday, with the Liberals leveling threats of an extreme right-wing government and the Conservatives accusing Liberal staff of intimidation.
Video was also leaked of Horwath's orange SUV driving too close to a cyclist, despite the NDP's pledge to bring in a one-metre rule between cars and bikes.
With files from The Canadian Press and CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson.
Follow Natalie Johnson on Twitter at @NatalieCTV
