Ontario's premier is telling voters to keep the province's woes in mind when they go to the polls next month for a federal election.

Premier Dalton McGuinty said Ontario has consistently been overlooked by the Conservative government when it comes to financial support. He said that on a per capita basis, Ontario gets less money for health care and employment insurance than other provinces, despite making up one-third of the seats in Ottawa.

For example, when an Ontarian loses their job, they get $4,600 less in benefits from the federal government than they would if they were living in Quebec. In total, Ontarians received $2.1 billion less last year than Quebecers.

Voters should ask the candidates about their plans for Ontario when they come knocking on their door looking for support, said McGuinty.

"Where do you stand on fairness for Ontario? Are you going to address employment insurance for Ontarians? Are you going to give us the same amount of money for health care that other Canadians get? Are you going to give us the same amount of money for our infrastructure? How about a regional economic development plan?" McGuinty suggested voters ask during a press conference at Queen's Park Monday morning.

"The manufacturing sector of Ontario is having the stuffing kicked out of it," he said "This is an opportunity for Ontarians to come together and stand together on this issue."

But provincial Conservative Opposition Leader John Tory said McGuinty should also speak out against federal Liberal Leader Stephane Dion's Green Shift plan.

"I think the first thing Dalton McGuinty should be doing in order to ensure fairness for Ontario is to speak up loud and clear and to say a carbon tax is not good for (the province,)" Tory said.

The last thing Ontario residents and businesses need is a new tax, he added.

"It is not going to enhance fairness for Ontario. It is not going to improve Ontario's economy. A tax is a tax is a tax."

McGuinty said he supports putting "a price on carbon" but stopped short of endorsing Dion's plan. The premier said he plans to ask each federal leader how they plan to address the issue.

Provincial opposition parties accused McGuinty of trying to distract voters from Ontario's troubled manufacturing sector by focusing instead on his "fairness campaign."

Ontario's NDP leader Howard Hampton said Ontarians should look at the plight of the province's working class.

"The real story that's happening in Canada and in Ontario is all kinds of working people are finding their lives becoming much more difficult while some people are wealthier than ever," said Hampton. "Somebody's got to fight for fairness, and I'll be helping (federal NDP Leader) Jack Layton do that."

Tory said he will also help campaign for his federal counterparts while McGuinty said he will help his brother David campaign for re-election in Ottawa.

Miller's wish list

Toronto Mayor David Miller echoed McGuinty's demand to shine the spotlight on Canada's most populous city.

"Prosperous, livable cities are most definitely in the national interest," Miller said.

While speaking at an affordable housing event on Monday, the mayor laid out his wish list. At the top was more money for public transit.

"The mayor of Montreal and I have called for national transit strategy - will we see that investment?" Miller asked.

The mayor's wish list also included a national handgun ban, affordable housing and investments to culture and the arts.

CTV Toronto also went to the street to find what matters most to residents.

Voters said they wanted to hear candidates' views on education, road infrastructure and the economy.

Interestingly, Canada's mission in Afghanistan was not mentioned as an election issue by anyone asked Monday.

With files from The Canadian Press and a report from CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss, Naomi Parness and Tom Hayes