Alberta NDP tops list for political donations

Alberta’s New Democrats pulled in $2.11 million last year, topping the list of 2017 provincial political donations.

The United Conservative Party, which has only existed for six months, was close behind with $2.07 million.

The bulk of the NDP’s cash — around $1.21 million — came from receipted donations greater than $250, with a half-million from smaller donations. The party also raked in $329,698 through fundraising and close to $60,000 through other means.

For the UCP, $1.12 million came from receipted donations, $633,650 from membership fees and $262,500 from the leadership race. Fundraising brought in $52,129.

Although the now-defunct Progressive Conservative and Wildrose parties fall under the UCP umbrella, they still managed to bring in a combined $3.06 million in 2017.

The bulk of the $1.84 million raised by the PCs came from $961,086 in transfers from constituency associations, which is being used to pay down the party ’s debt. At the end of the year, it remained $192,236 in the hole.

The former governing party also picked up $307,423 in membership fees and $317,286 in donations.

The Wildrose Party brought in $1.22 million in 2017. Just over $800,000 of that came from donations, with another $367,000 from party membership fees.

According to UCP executive director Janice Harrington, the vast majority of PC and Wildrose membership fees were connected to the unity vote last summer.

Alberta’s Liberal party raised $237,758 in 2017, despite having only one MLA. Donations comprised $161,390 and party memberships $23,295. The Alberta Party raised $215,154 last year. Close to $143,000 of that came from donations — mostly more than $250 — and another $27,605 from membership fees. Fundraising brought in $42,913.

Although the NDP topped 2017 donations, it only just surpassed the UCP, which formed July 24 and began fundraising Aug. 1.

That doesn’t worry Alberta NDP provincial secretary Roari Richardson. “My main goal is to make sure my pre-election planning is moving forward the way I need it to,” he told Postmedia in an interview Thursday.

“We’re exceeding our targets for what we want to do for election preparation, so I’m thrilled with where we’re at.”

Neither Richardson nor Harrington would spill the beans on how much they want to squirrel away in an election war chest.