Q1 2006 Federal Fundraising Totals

Elections Canada has released the latest fundraising totals for Canada's five major parties.

Party (Number of Contributors, Average Contribution)

Conservatives - $5,371,354.00 (37,391, $143.65)

Liberals - $ 1,328,515.12 (6,493, $204.61)

NDP - $1,113,563.26 (12,850, $86.66)

Bloc - $147,855.66 (1,902, $77.74)

Green - $125,782.89 (1,612, $78.03)

Basically, the Liberal Party is in real trouble when it can only muster $200,000 more than the NDP (especially during an election campaign).

It is obvious that the new campaign financing rules established by Jean Chretien have seriously put his own party at the disadvantage. The most shocking difference is in the number of contributions. The Conservatives had a whopping 37,391 contributors compared to only 6,493 for the Liberals. The NDP has almost 13,000.

This shows that more than picking a new leader, the Liberal Party must reshape itself, rebuild its grassroots appeal and start raising some cash. This problem could only get worse with the new campaign finance rules outlined in Harper's accountability act.

1. A $1,000 maximum contribution limit per Canadians.
2. No contributions from corporations or unions.

The Conservatives have mastered the grassroots, small contribution method made famous by Preston Manning and the Reform Party. The NDP has always been strong in getting contributions from its supporters (dispite the small average size).

If the Liberals are going to compete during the next election, they have to work quickly to close the fundraising gap between them and the Conservatives.