After weeks of unofficial campaigning by all of Ontario's major political parties, the campaign is finally official.
Lt.-Gov. David Onley dissolved the legislature over the noon hour Monday and issued the writ, kicking off the 30 days leading up to the Oct. 10 election.
After kicking off the Liberal campaign in Toronto on Sunday, Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty visited a public school Monday morning, before visiting Onley's office to request that the legislature be dissolved.
He was then scheduled to fly to Ottawa for his nomination meeting in the electoral district of Ottawa South.
Conservative Leader John Tory was to open campaign offices in Mississauga on Monday, after two weeks of touring the province on campaign buses and promoting his party's promise to extend public funding to private religious schools.
Both the Conservatives and the Liberals have released their party platforms for the upcoming elections.
NDP Leader Howard Hampton, who said he plans to release the party's full platform later this week, was scheduled to attend a rally in Hamilton on Monday afternoon.
The Green Party plans to release its full platform on Thursday, said party spokeswoman Anouk Hoedeman on Monday.
Green Party Leader Frank de Jong was to put more of his own energy into the first day of the campaign than any of the other leaders — he was to cycle from Toronto to Guelph and meet with local candidate Ben Polley.
With files from the Canadian PressRelated
Video
- Ron Charles reports for CBC-TV (Runs: 2:49)
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- John McGrath covers the Liberal campaign for CBC-TV (Runs: 2:25)
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- Mike Wise covers the Progressive Conservative campaign for CBC-TV (Runs: 1:18)
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- Karina Roman covers the NDP campaign for CBC-TV (Runs: 1:48)
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- Steven D'Souza reports for CBC-TV (Runs: 2:07)
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Ontario Votes 2007 »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
District Profiles
More Ontario Votes Headlines »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
