Canada’s opposition parties are threatening to defeat the Conservative government over cuts to political party subsidies included in Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s economic update.
We cannot ask Canadians to tighten their belts during tougher times without looking in the mirror. Canadians have a right to look to government as an example. We have a responsibility to show restraint and respect for their money. Canadian tax dollars are precious … Today, our Government is eliminating the $1.95-per-vote taxpayer subsidy for politicians and their parties, effective April 1, 2009.
Stéphane Dion announced he will step down as Liberal Party leader, but says he will stay on as interim leader until his replacement is chosen at a leadership convention next Spring.
I was told I gave a good performance, but it was not enough.
Dion blames last week’s electoral defeat on ‘Conservative propaganda’ and the Liberal Party’s inability to match Tory spending on advertising due to a ‘financial crisis’ caused by historically low fundraising capacity.
The Conservative Party continues to dominate political fundraising in the second quarter of 2008, collecting 65% of the total fundraising dollars, more than all other political parties combined.
The Liberal Party failed to attract as many donars as the New Democratic Party but received more total donations due to higher average individual contributions.
The NDP continued its recent fundraising success, attracting donations from more people than the Liberal Party, while the Green Party’s donations remained steady.
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.
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