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Angela Kennedy isn't worried about her chances of beating Don Valley East Liberal incumbent David Caplan when Ontarians head to the polls Oct. 10.

The Tory candidate and Toronto Catholic District School Board Ward 11 Trustee is confident her track record speaks for itself and is ready to take on new responsibility at Queen's Park.

"It's a neck-and-neck race and I'm ready to pull ahead very soon," Kennedy said. "I'm hearing it's time for change."

One of the most ethnically diverse ridings in the province, Don Valley East boasts an immigrant population of more than 53 per cent, where renters outnumber homeowners and the largest ethnic group is Chinese.

The riding is bordered by Finch Avenue to the north, Victoria Park Avenue to the east, Sunrise Avenue to the south and the Don River, Leslie Street and the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway lines to the west.

A big concern in the riding is air pollution from the Don Valley Parkway and gridlock, Kennedy said, adding a better transit system needs to be implemented.

Funding for faith-based schools makes perfect sense for Ontario, Kennedy said, adding it's one way to monitor what's being taught in classrooms.

"If we just leave them where they are and don't mind not teaching the Ontario curriculum and more and more students coming into the system, it would be chaos," she said.

The Tories would also upload certain social services to the province and put a 50 per cent cap on property tax.

Caplan, who was first elected to the provincial legislature in a 1997 byelection and serves as minister for public infrastructure renewal, said voters have noted the positive change the Liberals have brought to Ontario, including cutting class sizes and reducing wait times for medical procedures.

The McGuinty government also plans to add 250 police officers to the force over the next four years to help combat crime, Caplan added.

Green Party candidate Trifon Haitas said voters are receptive to the idea of working toward a sustainable environment.

"The main concern people have at the door is what are we doing that would be different than the current government," said Haitas, who is president and CEO of Audio Visual Communications Inc. "We are not for nuclear projects. Nuclear energy is not for Toronto."

Conserving energy is key, Haitas said, adding public institutions need to be run on biothermal energy.

"Someone new, someone fresh needs to step up to the plate," he said. "The McGuinty government is full of promises and it never delivers. Because of the riding being traditionally Liberal and Progressive Conservative, constituents have been let down one too many times. We are providing a new approach as an alternative."

Mary Trapani Hynes said she's been campaigning for the last month, bringing the NDP's message to the riding.

"I hear people say they always voted Liberal and now they are voting NDP," said Hynes, a retired special education teacher.

Constituents are concerned with wait times for various health-care procedures, Hynes said, adding provincial downloading is also brought up.

"The Don Valley Parkway is on the edge of the riding and sometimes you can see the air you breathe," she said. "The environment here is very fragile. Larger and larger condominiums are being built and people are worried about green space. We need to spend much more energy on green solutions."

Hynes also said efficient public transit needs to be put in place to get into the downtown core without relying on cars.

Ryan Kidd said the Family Coalition Party will allow private clinics to operate in the province to help ease wait time and address doctor shortages.

Kidd, who has run federally for the Christian Heritage Party, said the majority of voters are disillusioned with the current government and would rather not get involved politically.

"The majority of people have not heard of us," Kidd said. "It's difficult to break through if your party is not on TV. Under the current system, the chances of winning is relatively slim; it would be a miracle."

Also running are Wayne Simmons for the Freedom Party and independent candidate Stella Kargiannakis.