B.C. voters will have a clear choice when they go to the polls on May 12, officials with the BC Liberals and New Democrats say — and the differences are defined in the campaign ads and slogans.

The slogan "Take Back Your BC" will be the major theme of the NDP's election campaign.

The party's new ad, released on Monday, focuses on what it sees as the threats of privatization and corruption, and says the BC Liberals made their friends wealthy at the expense of the public.

"This is part of our strategy — to end this expensive and corrupt privatization," Gerry Scott, NDP campaign co-manager, said Monday. "That's part of our strategy, and we'll see more in coming days."

The BC Liberals will be focusing on their message: "Keep B.C. Strong." Their ad was launched to a prime-time television audience during the recent Juno Awards show, which was held in Vancouver.

"We have a strong message to take out there," Ida Chong, minister of community development, said Monday.

"We can deliver on a sound economic plan, in contrast to the NDP, which has no plan. That's what we're gonna do."

This is just the start of spending by the political parties.

In the 60 days leading up to the campaign, each party is allowed to spend $1.1 million. During the 28-day campaign, that figure quadruples to $4.4 million.

Individual candidates are allowed to spend $70,000 before the writ is dropped next week, and another $70,000 during the campaign.