Tory war chest bulging as other parties finally out of the red

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This article was published 03/04/2018 (2414 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The provincial Conservatives have $1.3 million in the bank, more than 12 times as much as the opposition NDP and Liberals combined.

Money has been pouring into the party’s bank account since Premier Brian Pallister led them to a majority government two years ago.

Annual financial reports filed this week with Elections Manitoba show the Tories had a surplus of $1,307,276 as of Dec. 31.

It’s the best year the Conservatives have had in recent memory, said Keith Stewart, CEO of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba.

“The goal is to prepare for the election year,” he said, adding the party can’t just assume the money will continue to flow in at those levels.

The New Democrats have wiped out their post-election deficit and have a surplus of $62,433, while the Liberals have also bounced back from their election debacle, with a surplus of $40,563 at year’s end.

However, the Green Party of Manitoba has more green than the Liberals and almost as much as the NDP — $53,716 — despite being a mostly volunteer operation, and unlike the other main parties, having no big bills for running an office.

Oddly, three donors gave the NDP the maximum donation of $5,000, while only one gave the Tories the maximum, which the provincial government has increased from the previous $3,000 ceiling.

NDP leader Wab Kinew gave $5,000 to his party, as did supporters Greg Bauman and Pat Harkins.

Only Saralyn C. Mehta gave $5,000 to the PCs, although 29 other people gave the party more than $3,000.

There’s always been few people who donate the maximum, even though people might think the Tories would attract big spenders, Stewart said.

“We’ve never surpassed the other parties in donors who give to the limit. The vast majority of our donors are smaller donors, under $250. We were up in (number of) donors from the year before, but not by much,” he said.

The Conservative cash is more than the near $1.2 million they had in their final year in opposition in 2015, and has the potential to grow considerably this year and next heading into the 2020 provincial election, Stewart said.

Pallister himself gave $2,250 to the party and his wife Esther Pallister gave $1,605.

NDP provincial officials have not been available since filing their annual financial report on Tuesday.

The Communist Party of Manitoba had a deficit at year’s end of $8,874, while the Manitoba Party has received an extension to file by April 17.

The full financial statements are online at the Elections Manitoba website.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca