B.C. Conservatives surpass NDP in fundraising for second quarter in a row

For the second quarter in a row, the B.C. Conservatives have raised more than the NDP, bringing in almost $400,000 more than the third-term government and giving new leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay a sizable war chest to start her term as the party's top official. Photo by Conservative caucus of B.C.

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For the second quarter in a row, the B.C. Conservatives have raised more than the NDP, bringing in almost $400,000 more this year than the third-term government and giving new leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay a sizable war chest to start her term as the party’s top official.

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Hamish Telford, a University of the Fraser Valley political scientist, said Conservative parties historically tend to raise more in B.C.

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“We know not just in Canada but globally, conservatives, sort of populist conservatives, are very mobilized. They’re very animated, and they are willing to contribute money to their preferred parties on a fairly regular basis. These are small donations happening frequently, whereas the other parties tend to languish in fundraising until elections get close,” said Telford.

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“What surprises me about the numbers is the uptick for the NDP while the Conservatives were having their leadership race, and that suggests to me that New Democrats were paying attention to what was happening with the Conservatives, and saying, ‘oh boy, we’ve got to help our guys out’.”

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According to interim fundraising reports released by Elections B.C. on Tuesday, the Conservatives raised $1,146,268 between April 1 and June 30 of this year, about $31,000 more than the NDP’s $1,114,505.

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Despite the advantage, the gap has narrowed since the first three months of the year when the Conservatives beat the NDP by more than $300,000, raising $1,083,187 to the NDP’s $702,820.

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In the most recent quarter, the Conservatives received 25,289 donations of $250 or less, totalling $852,006. This is more than double the $415,419 that the NDP received from 5,458 small donations.

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In contrast, the NDP received 1,063 large donations of over $250 while the Conservatives only received 454 large donations.

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“We were proud to edge out the NDP in fundraising, raising more than $1.14 million, but what stands out most is the incredible grassroots energy behind this movement and behind my leadership,” said Findlay.

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“Thousands of people are chipping in because they want a different direction for British Columbia, and the B.C. Conservatives are ready to deliver the change our province desperately needs.”

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NDP officials pointed out that fundraising totals so far this year exceed those of last year, with $1.82 million raised in the first half of the year compared to $1.5 million in the first half of last year.

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“These fundraising numbers show continued strong support from everyday British Columbians for David Eby’s plan to build a brighter future for our province,” said B.C. NDP provincial director Tania Jarzebiak.

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Mario Canseco, the president of polling company Research Co., says that while Conservatives numbers are good, the real test will be once Findlay completes her first quarter as leader and what the total fundraising numbers are by that point.