TORONTO — Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty plans to travel across Canada to fight proposed changes to the country's equalization program.

Ontario and Alberta are the only provinces that don't receive equalization payments, which help poorer provinces provide a standard level of government programs and services.

McGuinty says Ontario is struggling with a deficit, and has the lowest funding per capita for colleges and universities and the second-lowest funding for health care.

And he says there's no reason to believe the other provinces are in worst shape than Ontario is.

McGuinty says he'll travel to other provinces over the next couple of months, seeking media opportunities to explain Ontario's position.

Ontario is the only province objecting to increasing equalization payments as one way to address the so-called fiscal imbalance between Ottawa and the provinces.

"When we enrich equalization, it stands to benefit half of the country at the expense of the other half," he said Wednesday.

"We're looking for a solution to the fiscal imbalance that benefits all Canadians."