What are the ballot-box issues in the Ontario election?

Premier Dalton McGuinty visited Lt.-Gov. David Onley Wednesday to formally ask for the dissolution of the Ontario legislature. And with that, the province's 40th general election campaign is officially underway.

As with all elections, pundits are asking: "What is the ballot box question?" In other words, what issues will the Ontario electorate base their vote on?

A Nanos Research poll released Tuesday found voters in Ontario rate health care as their number one issue with 26.4 per cent of the vote, followed by the economy at 16 per cent and taxes at 15 per cent. The issue of high taxes was the biggest gainer, showing a 10 per cent increase from August.

There's also a sentiment towards change which may hurt McGuinty who his vying for his third term as premier.

Greg Lyle, managing director of polling firm Innovative Research Group, told the Toronto Star "time for a change" numbers in the province are "off the charts" — roughly six in 10 want a new party in power.

McGuinty, however, is banking on his family friendly platform which focuses on tuition grants to university students, and homecare and long-term care for seniors.

Tory leader Tim Hudak, who currently leads in the polls, has branded McGuinty the "Tax Man". His party is offering a blend of promises, including tax and spending cuts, while pledging to preserve health and education spending.

If elected, Hudak says he will scrap McGuinty's green energy plans and would introduce controversial law-and-order measures such as forced labour for prisoners.

Andrea Horwath's New Democratic Party is focusing its campaign on pocketbook issues. She's promising to scrap the provincial portion of the HST on gasoline, home heating and home hydro. She would also cap public sector executive salaries at $418,000.

Horwath's party is experiencing its highest polling numbers in seven years buoyed by the death of Jack Layton and the subsequent national outpouring.

The emergence of the NDP makes this election a three-way race.

(CP Photo)