The most recent fundraising totals for political parties in Alberta help paint a picture of the province’s political landscape.
When it comes to raising money, Alberta’s two main parties have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from other parties. election alberta Q3 report.
report shows Alberta NDP $1,435,563.94 was raised in the third quarter and ucp Fundraising of $974,640.57.
Political scientist Fyodor Snagovsky said these third quarter fundraising numbers show signs of a healthy democracy, with a clearly established two-party system.
He referenced the Progressive Conservatives, who ruled for more than 40 years with little choice of power until the NDP’s “Orange Crush” in 2015.
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In a shocking turn, Rachel Notley’s NDP won a majority government in Alberta on May 4, 2015, ending 44 years of rule by the Progressive Conservatives.
“Now that we’ve moved to a two-party system, I think it’s a really good thing,” he explained.
“Not only are there challenges from within to the governing party, but there are actually two parties that could form a government.”
ProLife Alberta earned third place for third quarter fundraising with $51,126.94.
The group, which has never held a seat in the Alberta legislature, raised more money than the Alberta Party and the Liberal Party combined.
ProLife Alberta executive director Richard Durr said he believes his party’s fundraising totals can be attributed to some Albertans directing their money towards a specific set of values.
Durr said, “There is, as it were, a two-party system, and both parties are neglecting to address issues of the right to life and the beneficiary of this is our union.”
Durr said if the party fields a candidate for the next Alberta election it will take a “wait and see” approach.
Snagowski said a party that has earned fundraising dollars without a clear path to nominating candidates could mean a singular idea has resonated with a group of Albertans.
“There are different types of political parties. Some try to form the government and some try to push a particular ideology or a policy platform,” he explained.
Whereas people who might otherwise donate to the Liberal Party or the Alberta Party are more interested in supporting the party that can actually form government,” he said.
“Those who are supporting abortion groups have no hope – they are not sitting around thinking that the party will eventually form government.”
Elections Alberta fundraising report for the third quarter of 2022.
Brad Pearson/Global News
Alberta party leader Barry Morishita said he’s hoping the next election will help his party attract some more attention and raise dollars.
“If we had a presence in the legislature, you would get regular exposure… coverage [in the news]But eventually it has to be earned.
Morishita said he expected development to take a while.
“We haven’t had success … it will take a lot of effort to push us over the hump.”
Snagowski said he is not sure whether Alberta will see a three- or four-way race, partly because of the first-past-the-post system.
“The party with the most votes wins, so it leaves absolutely no room for third parties to emerge as they split the vote,” he explained.
“That’s what happened to the PCs and the Wildrose Party and is one of the reasons they eventually formed the UCP.”
“They certainly compete for attention from voters,” he said.
“The reality is that many times political parties do not change views very much. They are competing mostly on who can get voters to consider their issues the most important.
Elections Alberta said the fourth quarter fundraising will be released on January 31, 2022.
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