$1.2M

Oil and gas companies accounted for four of the top 10 donors to Alberta politics between 2004 and 2016 — together accounting for contributions of more than $1.2 million. The energy industry is one of the province’s biggest employers. It has also been the recipient of a variety of subsidies — including approximately $1.161 million through the Crown Royalty Reduction Program, according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development. This has continued with the transition of power from the Progressive Conservatives to the New Democratic Party: In December 2016, Rachel Notley’s government announced a $500-million subsidy for companies building petrochemical processing plants. But the NDP has changed political fundraising rules since taking power. In June 2015, the province banned corporate donations, as well as contributions from unions (which have given significant sums to the NDP).