NDP Leader Rachel Notley (left) and UCP Leader / Premier Jason Kenney (right). (Photos by Canadian Press and Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Alberta NDP & UCP each fundraised $5-million in 2020

Jan 21, 2021 | 3:24 PM

EDMONTON, AB – Alberta’s two largest provincial political parties were neck-and-neck in terms of fundraising in 2020.

According to financial data released by Elections Alberta, the New Democrats saw total contributions of $5,061,979.

The NDP says this past year was their best non-election-year ever for fundraising. They also had their strongest fourth-quarter yet with $2,322,490 raised.

“Albertans are rightly frustrated and angry with Jason Kenney,” says NDP Leader Rachel Notley. “Jason Kenney and the UCP failed to take action to control the second wave of COVID-19, they have done very little to support people and businesses throughout this pandemic, and they have no plan to recover our economy once this is all over.”

According to the NDP, there was a surge in donations on the last day of the quarter after it was first revealed that several cabinet ministers and MLAs in the United Conservative Party (UCP) had travelled abroad during the holidays.

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The UCP was just slightly behind their left-wing counterparts with $5,045,322 in donations.

“We were overwhelmed by the generosity from our supporters during a very difficult 2020 for Albertans. 2020 was among the most challenging circumstances any Alberta government has faced in generations with global turmoil, an oil price war, and a pandemic,” reads a statement to LNN from UCP Party President Ryan Becker.

“Despite those obstacles, our supporters raised more than $5 million and put us in a very solid position as we look to the next election in 2023.”

Becker goes on to say that their 2020 totals were roughly on pace for what they would expect for a non-election year.

In third place was the Alberta Party who garnered $121,365 in donations last year.

Year-to-date party contribution reports for all of Alberta’s provincial parties can be found here.