Liberal donations exceed PC total ahead of this year's provincial race
Deadline for a provincial election to be held is Oct. 21
The New Brunswick Liberals will head into this year's provincial election having collected more donations than the Progressive Conservatives in 2023.
According to financial returns to Elections New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Liberal Association reported $539,081 in contributions, including $1,200 from prior years.
The total for the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick was $423,355 in 2023.
The Liberals also came in with a higher surplus, at $319,585, compared to the Tory surplus of $254,035.
The Susan Holt-led Liberals gained $539,081 in donations last year. (Sam Farley/CBC News)
The Green party garnered donations of $78,000 in the first six months of 2023 and had a surplus of $95,438.
Premier Blaine Higgs has yet to say when New Brunswickers will head to the polls, but the deadline for a provincial election to be held is Oct. 21.
Higgs garnered criticism from New Brunswick Liberal Leader Susan Holt for travelling to British Columbia and Alberta for meet-and-greet events that invited participants to make a donation to the New Brunswick PCs.
Premier Blaine Higgs has been criticized by Holt for trying to drum up monetary support in other provinces. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Donations from those events wouldn't be reflected in the latest returns, but political scientist Jamie Gillies said the reports still show an imbalance between the two main parties when it comes to out-of-province contributions.
"The PCs had four times as many individual contributions as the Liberals in 2023 from outside the province," Gillies said. "This is problematic because it shows that fundraising external to the province is helping to boost their contributions."
Despite having fewer out-of-province contributions, the Liberals raised about 40 per cent of what the PCs did from those donors — with totals of $5,800 and $13,655 respectively.
"On the other hand, it also shows that despite the national notoriety of the Policy 713 debacle in 2023, it did not amount to very many contributions to [the PC] party from across the country," Gillies said.
Political
scientist Jamie Gillies noted the Tories recorded four times as many
out-of-province donations as the Liberals in 2023. (CBC)
"There are only about 30 or so out-of-province contributions in 2023 and Steve Outhouse, the PC campaign manager, made one of the largest of these out-of-province contributions."
However, Gillies noted, it's unclear how the picture may have changed in 2024.
"The continued polarizing leadership of the premier is probably helping to fill the coffers of both parties, in terms of 2024 fundraising," he said.
NBLA executive director Hannah Fulton-Johnson said by email the party is "seeing support from all corners of the province."
She said in 2024, the party has seen an increase in the amount of money raised and in new and first-time donors, but declined to provide a dollar figure when asked by CBC News.
Requests for comment and for 2024 donation figures went unanswered by the PCNB on Friday.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Amos
Reply to David Amos
Provincial Liberals' cash advantage erased after 2018 election
Party's money advantage over Progressive Conservatives down to under $200K
Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: Dec 06, 2019 6:00 AM AST
New Brunswick Liberals under Brian Gallant ran a more pricey election campaign in 2018 than PCs did under Blaine Higgs. Without enough donors to cover the bills, Liberals dug deep into party savings to make ends meet, posting a $1.2 million deficit for the year
Reply to Lou Bell
Reply to Tristis Ward
Reply to Shevek Anarres
Reply to Lou Bell
Reply to Lou Bell
Reply toLou Bell
Reply to Sean Adams
Reply to David Amos
Reply to Tristis Ward
Reply to Tristis Ward
Reply to Sean Adams
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Think about it.
Goodby Higgs have a good retirement with your big pension.
David Amos
Be careful we could go "Poof" again
Higgs will be heading to Alberta to beg for donations tonight. 😂
David Amos
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Premier defends practice of fundraising on public-funded trips
Premier Brian Gallant says it's a "normal thing" to fundraise across the country
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Apr 25, 2016 6:26 PM ADT
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Saying as Alberta pays for everything else, why would he not go right to the source?
Reply to Danny Sterns
"Saying as ..."😂😂👍
Reply to Danny Sterns
Alberta/Quebec😭😭
Seems outhouse is the m.0dd tonight ;-)
Who would want to donate to a party with no vision?
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
fAYTEENS followers, that's who.
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
I understood Higgs wants New Brunswick to be a little Alberta, frack for big bucks, and save the world, with him as chief honcho.
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
When was the last time any of the
Opposition Parties were involved ?
Reply to Dianne MacPherson
On or about the 12th of Never
Reply to Marc LeBlanc
When was there a Liberal in them ? They left a bare cupboard from their last term and 2 billion more in debt . Wh o would support such a party ? And these all existed when the Liberals were in power weren't they ?
Reply to MR Cain
A political scientist? What exactly does that mean? He certainly appears to have a very bias liberal side to him. Hopefully he is not a prof. with his slant. "On the other hand, it also shows that despite the national notoriety of the Policy 713 debacle in 2023, it did not amount to very many contributions to [the PC] party from across the country," Gillies said.
Reply to David Webb
Gillies, Jamie, BA (Victoria), MA, PhD (British Columbia)
Assistant Professor (2013), Journalism and Communications & Public Policy. Maybe the reporter should have checked on that bias, asked the tough questions.
Reply to David Webb
Political scientists make me laugh
Kenneth Dwight
Reply to Kenneth Dwight
She has her own campaign to run now.
Higgs will be on a jet to Alberta tonight. Most of his campaign donations come from out West.
Reply to Wilbur Ross
NB supplies a lot of workers to Alberta.
Reply to Les Cooper
Yesh, very true.
David Amos
Reply toWilbur Ross
Liberal cabinet minister Donald Arseneault described a party fundraiser as a way for business people to “network” with elected officials to boost the economy. (CBC)
That's not why.
Reply to Deborah ReddonSusan Holt? She said she would balance the budget and pay down debt. She must be a miracle worker if she can do that without cutting services or increasing taxes. In other words keep following the success the province has been experiencing under the Higgs government kind of thing. Or is she just blowing smoke?
Reply to Deborah ReddonSusie can yammer & yammer all she wants but until the Feds close the border, there isn't a provincial government in Canada that will be able to effectively manage our resources. Our infrastructure simply cannot keep up with this absurd population growth.
Reply to David Webb
She is a politician. Higgs made a lot of promises too; just blows a lot of hot air.
Reply to David Webb
someone is blowing a lot of something, but it ain't Holt.
Reply to David Webb
Deja Vu?
Cash-strapped PCs 'working hard' on building campaign war chest
The Opposition party applied for government assistance to hire staff last year
Robert Jones · CBC News · Posted: Jul 30, 2018 5:00 AM ADT
Money was so tight at New Brunswick Progressive Conservative headquarters last year the party successfully applied for $4,700 in government wage assistance to help hire staff and had so many overdue bills it spent almost as much on late charges as it did on heat and lights.
Bob Hatheway acknowledges 2017 was a financial challenge for the PCs, but the party's long-time official agent and Fredericton businessman is confident it will be able to raise the substantial sums it needs this year to fight an effective province-wide election campaign — even with tough new donation rules.
Provincial Liberals' cash advantage erased after 2018 election
Party's money advantage over Progressive Conservatives down to under $200K
The New Brunswick Liberal party, headed by former leader Brian Gallant, ran a $1.2 million deficit in 2018 and emerged from the provincial election not just in opposition, but in a significantly weakened financial condition, new figures show.
Liberal election year spending coupled with fundraising problems fueled the record shortfall, which could haunt the party come the next election.
The deficit depleted a significant financial advantage Liberals had built up over New Brunswick Progrressive Conservatives and will ensure the two are more evenly matched with resources in their next province-wide contest.
"There is no longer this giant cash advantage," said UNB business instructor David Marshall, who reviewed both Liberal and PC financial statements from 2018.
"If you look back at 2017 the cash advantage (for Liberals) was roughly $1.7 million and now it's down to a $195,000 advantage."
Liberal financial records for 2018 were released by Elections New Brunswick just this week — five months late — and showed, while the party outspent Progressive Conservatives in the election year by more than $800,000 to try to retain government, it raised less money from donors to pay its bills than the PCs did.
Tight new contribution rules passed by the New Brunswick Legislature in 2017 hindered fundraising for all parties but had its largest impact on Liberals.
Corporate and union political donations are now banned in the province and the limit on individual donations was cut in half to $3,000 per year.
The Liberal party financial returns show it took in $997,000 in net contributions in 2018. That was well below the $1.26 million donated to Progressive Conservatives under the same restrictive rules and 30 percent less than donors gave Liberals in the 2014 election year
UNB
business instructor David Marshall said figures show a huge $1.7
million financial advantage New Brunswick Liberals had over PCs in 2017
was mostly wiped out after the 2018 election. (Robert Jones/CBC)
It is also the lowest amount raised by a New Brunswick governing party facing an election since 1982, when Richard Hatfield's Progressive Conservatives took in $998,000.
The Liberal Party's acting executive director Greg Byrne said the new restrictions on donations, which all parties in the Legislature voted in favour of in the spring of 2017, took a toll. Liberals took in $728,000 in corporate donations in 2014 and had a difficult time replacing that money.
"It was a major change for fundraising so I think parties have to adapt to that," said Byrne.
"We're going to have to raise more money to fight the (next) election but we're confident that we've always been able to raise money in the past and we'll be able to raise money going forward as well."
Because it raised more and spent less, the PCs financial return shows the party turned a small surplus in 2018 of $3,469 - a stark contrast to the Liberals, although some of that was caused by election expense reimbursements from the province that the two parties account for differently
New
Brunswick Liberals raised $997,000 in 2018 according to Elections NB,
the only time a New Brunswick governing party has raised less than $1
million in an election year since Richard Hatfield's PC's raised
$998,000 in 1982. (CBC NEWS)
But it's not all bad news for Liberals.
David Marshall says, despite the large swing in fortunes between the two parties in 2018, Liberals still had more money in the bank than PCs at the end of that year - just not the enormous advantage they used to enjoy.
"All is not lost for the Liberals because they've got more cash and no loans," said Marshall. "But they wouldn't want to do this again"
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
All Comments
David Amos
Methinks everybody is enjoying the circus these days N'esy Pas Mr Outhouse?
David Amos
Methinks the SANB are nervous campers these days N'esy Pas?
Reply by David Amos.
December 8, 2019
Reply to @David Amos: A puzzle for Sunday Brunch Who the true author of the following?
"The PANB will abandon the PCs? Tantamount to cutting off one’s own air supply. Mr. Austin et al. will evaporate and become the non-entities they were before."
Survey Says?
Reply by David Amos.
December 8, 2019
Reply to @David Amos: Nobody wants to play EH TJ?
Comment by Lou Bell.
December 6, 2019
I'm sure Frank has some underhanded way to top up the coffers !
Reply by David Amos.
December 6, 2019
Reply to @Lou Bell: Methinks there is no need to be underhanded Their buddies will line up to give them tax deducible funds in return for favours just like your heroes the Conservatives do N'esy Pas?
Comment by Terry Tibbs.
December 6, 2019
Money? Bah! Who needs money when you have Canada's super hero for a fearless leader?
Reply by David Amos.
December 6, 2019
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Surely you jest. You should know the score as well as I. Methinks everybody knows Mr Dressup and the RCMP must have the fun coupons to pay for airplanes and jet skis etc when our fearless leader goes surfing etc but that dough comes from taxpayer funds. Mr Vickers will need money to run the campaign bus and pay for his buddy Bob an ex RCMP dude from Fundy Royal that Franky Boy and Higgy know quite well to drive them around so they can get back on Gravy Train N'esy Pas?
Comment by Paul Bourgoin.
December 6, 2019
Funny how things can change in Politics! Now, the Conservative Party of New Brunswick is now connected to a strong and rich New Brunswick GOLD MINE!
Reply by David Amos.
December 6, 2019
Reply to @Paul Bourgoin: Vickers still has more money than Higgy to play with
Reply by Lou Bell.
December 7, 2019
Reply to @Paul Bourgoin: The Liberals GOLD MINE was the taxpayers of NB !! Big business wanted no part of their hidden schemes and nefarious doings other than to receive their FREE handouts !!!! As well as their SANB cohorts !!!
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Reply by David Amos.
December 6, 2019
Reply to @Abu Bakau: I don't believe any political gang
Comment by michael levesque.
December 6, 2019
ha ha Roger Melanson must have been in charge.
Reply by David Amos.
December 7, 2019
Reply to @michael levesque: He still is
Comment by Lou Bell.
December 6, 2019
Liberals never could handle money !! Never will !!
Reply by David Amos.
December 7, 2019
Reply to @Lou Bell: Conservatives are no better
Comment by Ray Bungay.
December 6, 2019
Which likely why they are in no hurry to bring down the Higgs government.. Higgs et al must seize this moment with solid change a good legislation to endure a strong win if the government falls or he calls a snap election. Also interesting on the Federal side the Bloc is going to support Trudeau??? on the Throne Speech.meaning all political parties are struggling to raise funds.
Reply by David Amos.
December 6, 2019
Reply to @Ray Bungay: Methinks Higgy et al should call a snap election ASAP before NB Power and their PANB buddies take the wind out their sails N'esy Pas?
Reply by Terry Tibbs.
December 7, 2019
Reply to @Ray Bungay:
"Higgs et al must seize this moment"
Higgs et al have no trouble seizing this moment, too bad the moment they are trying to seize is about 1965, where folks put up with political shenanigans, and nonsense.
The Liberals are no better.
Comment by Marc Bourque.
December 6, 2019
Typical liberal,always spending more than what they have...too bad huh ...
Reply by David Amos.
December 7, 2019
Reply to @Marc Bourque: Perhaps you should read the article again real slow
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Reply by David Amos.
December 6, 2019
Reply to @Rod McLeod: Well put
Comment by Greg Miller.
December 6, 2019
Well I guess the Liberal's taste for wasting taxpayers money has carried over to wasting their own money. I think they should hire a well-disciplined homemaker that is used to managing to survive with his/her family in a Province with the highest tax rate in Canada and probably the highest default rates for venture capital investments.
Reply by David Amos.
December 6, 2019
Reply to @Greg Miller: Methinks liberals forgot what common sense was long ago N'esy Pas?
Reply by Josef Blow.
December 7, 2019
Reply to @Greg Miller: Mr. Miller, NB does not have the highest tax rate in the nation. NS does.
Reply by Josef Blow.
December 7, 2019
Reply to @David Amos: and you are the purveyor of common sense as you well “know” ....
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Reply by Greg Miller.
December 8, 2019
Reply to @Josef Blow: I stand corrected "second highest" but hold on there's always hope we can become a leader in this too!
Reply by David Amos.
December 8, 2019
Reply to @Greg Miller: Too Too Funny Indeed. Methinks you do not know who corrected you N'esy Pas?
Reply by David Amos.
December 8, 2019
Reply to @David Amos: BINGO
Comment by David Amos.
December 6, 2019
The liberals still have lots of money to run against Higgy and his cohorts in the PANB
Reply by Thomas Imber.
December 6, 2019
Reply to @David Amos: The liberals will be in opposition for the foreseeable future, no amount of money will change that. They will probably go through a couple of leaders before they get back into power.
Reply by Thomas Black.
December 6, 2019
Reply to @Thomas Imber: That's what the federal PC thought, and they loss.
Reply by Chuck Michaels.
December 6, 2019
Reply to @Thomas Black: We ALL lost.... There wasn't a single federal leader that appealed to me. A couple had some good points or qualities - however not a single one had "the Right Stuff"...
Reply by David Amos.
December 6, 2019
Reply to @Chuck Michaels: Did you vote for me?
Reply by Josef Blow.
December 7, 2019
Reply to @David Amos: Who are you? I mean other than the person you think you are ... poor man.
Reply by David Amos.
December 7, 2019
Reply to @Josef Blow: I am the guy with a real name Who are you???
Reply by David Amos.
December 8, 2019
Reply to @Thomas Imber: Methinks Mr Vickers would agree that it would not be wise for folks to bet the farm on your opinion N'esy Pas?
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Reply by David Amos.
December 6, 2019
Reply to @Richard Dunn: Nope Methinks it all fueled up and ready to go as soon as the PANB gives up on Higgy N'esy Pas?
Reply by Josef Blow.
December 7, 2019
Reply to @David Amos: The PANB will abandon the PCs? Tantamount to cutting off one’s own air supply. Mr. Austin et al. will evaporate and become the non-entities they were before.
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Reply by David Amos.
December 8, 2019
Reply to @David Amos: BINGO Methinks somebody is not an average Sunday morning liberal spin doctor N'esy Pas?
Methinks that investment paid dividends N'esy Pas?