News that Raj Sherman‘s Alberta Liberal Party is downsizing its operations by moving into a smaller office and restructuring its organization led me to take a glance at provincial political party fundraising numbers for 2013.
Due to a change in legislation last year, political party fundraising reports are submitted to Elections Alberta quarterly and published online for the public to access. This year’s first and second quarter fundraising numbers
Danielle Smith‘s Wildrose Party raised a stunning $1,097,677 between April 1, 2013 and June 30, 2013, according to Elections Alberta financial disclosure documents. This was a significant jump since the first quarter of the year, when the official opposition party reportedly raised $527,613.
The official opposition Wildrose out-fundraised Premier Alison Redford‘s governing Progressive Conservative Association, which reported $684,232 raised in the second quarter.
The Liberals, who have traditionally faced difficult challenges in the fundraising field, appear to have doubled their income in the second quarter of 2013. While this growth is positive, it still leaves the third-place party miles behind the governing Tories and opposition Wildrose.
| 2013 Party Fundraising | Party | (<$250) | (>$250) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter(Jan 1-Mar 31) | PC | $26,462 | $525,912 | $552,375 | |
| Wildrose | $394,068 | $133,545 | $527,613 | ||
| Liberal | $41,918 | $13,375 | $55,293 | ||
| NDP | $91,245 | $29,549 | $120,791 | ||
| Alberta Party | $6,812 | $600 | $7,412 | ||
| 2ND QUARTER (APR 1-JUN 30) | PC | $25,248 | $659,984 | $684,232 | +$158,320 |
| Wildrose | $486,472 | $611,205 | $1,097,677 | +$570,064 | |
| Liberal | $71,861 | $49,255 | $121,116 | +$65,823 | |
| NDP | $100,622 | $25,412 | $126,034 | +$5,243 | |
| Alberta Party | $6,025 | $600 | $6,625 | -$787 | |
Meanwhile, the Separation Party of Alberta has changed their name to the Alberta First Party. The request was received and approved by the Chief Electoral Officer and the change was made effective May 14, 2013.
A previous incarnation of the Alberta First Party existed from 1999 to 2003 and was lead by John Reil (who had previously run for the Social Credit Party and later ran for the leadership of the Liberal Party in 2004). The AFP ran candidates in the 2001 provincial election and received its best result in the Cardston-Taber-Warner constituency with 26% of the vote.
Elections Alberta lists former Separation Party leader Bart Hampton as the current leader of the AFP.
