May 26 to 30, 2008 - Speculation surrounding Julie Couillard spins out of control after Couillard gave a public interview in which she revealed former Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier left sensitive documents at her home.
The mainstream media, Liberal Party and Bloc Québécois speculate about a possible bug in Couillard’s mattress, rumoured meetings between Canada’s spy agency CSIS and the Prime Minister’s Office, and whether Couillard held a diplomatic passport.
May 8 and 9, 2008 - The Liberal Party and the Bloc Québécois attack the government over Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier’s former relationship with a woman who had personal ties to Quebec bikers in the 1990’s.
The government refused to answer the questions claiming they inappropriately malign the reputation of an innocent woman.
Questions about national security?
The Liberals and the Bloc insist the issue raises national security concerns, but the NDP say they are uncomfortable pursuing this line of questioning.
According to data released today by Elections Canada, the Conservative Party raised 69% of the money donated to political parties in the first quarter of 2008, a 7 point increase from 62% of the political donations in 2007.
Contributions to Political Parties
(2008 Q1)
Conservative
Liberal
NDP
Green
Bloc
Total number of contributors
44,345
10,169
13,329
4,731
463
Total amount of contributions
$4,954,550
$846,129
$1,119,648
$210,963
$37,006
Transfers from registered associations
0
$9,134
$352
$6,592
$65
Transfers from candidates
$268
0
0
0
0
Total transfers
$268
$368,249
$352
$6,592
$65
Grand Total
$4,954,818
$879,927
$1,119,648
$217,555
$37,071
Average contribution
$111.73
$83.21
$84.00
$44.59
$79.93
Percent of total contributions
68.7%
12.2%
15.5%
3.0%
0.5%
The NDP raised 16% and the Liberal Party raised just 12% of the total political contributions.
The Conservative Party raised more money in 2007 than all the other political parties combined, according to data released by Elections Canada. The Conservatives earned 62% of the fundraising dollars, while the Liberal Party raised 18%.
For the first time, more people donated money to the NDP than to the Liberal Party.
Contributions to Political Parties
(2007, Elections Canada)
Conservative
Liberal
NDP
Green
Bloc
Total number of contributors
159,122
35,783
53,110
12,003
5,038
Total amount of contributions
$16,990,766
$4,537,966
$3,979,737
$984,605
$430,061
Transfers from registered associations
$16,000
$331,683
$352
$21,026
$33,379
Transfers from candidates
$5,282
$331,683
0
0
$1,855
Total Transfers
$21,282
$368,249
$352
$21,026
$35,234
Grand Total
$17,012,048
$4,906,215
$3,980,089
$1,005,631
$465,296
Percent of Total
62.2%
17.9%
14.5%
3.7%
1.7%
The government’s Accountability Act came into effect on January 1, 2007 and imposed new limits on political donations that forbids political donations from corporations, trade unions, associations and other groups.
Now only individual Canadians to contribute, and only up to a limit of $1100 per person, per calendar year to each registered political party.
The new fund raising rules have proven to be a challenge for the Liberal Party whose finances heavily relied on large donations from corporations, trade unions and special interest groups.
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