N.L. PCs began election year with 17 times less cash than Liberals

New financial statements show Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberal Party ended 2024 with about 17 times more money in the bank than the Progressive Conservatives, with a looming provincial election slated to be called between now and Oct. 14.

Party annual returns posted online Tuesday by Elections Newfoundland and Labrador show that the Progressive Conservative Party had just $30,000 cash on Dec. 31. 

The Liberal Party had more than $500,000.

The Liberals, whose outgoing leader Andrew Furey will be replaced next month, also fundraised about six times more than the PCs in 2024.

The Liberals, with a majority of 22 MHAs in the House of Assembly, raised almost $1 million. The PCs, with 14 MHAs, brought in about $150,000.

"Those numbers don't bother me. I think what you see is people going to the government party, that happens in all cycles," said PC Leader Tony Wakeham. 

"I'm not worried.… I think the money will be there, you know, people are reaching out to us, but more importantly, for me, it's making sure that I've got quality candidates and we have quality candidates right now that have signed up to say, 'Yes, I want to represent the PC Party in the House of Assembly.' "

'Unfair advantage' for Liberals, says NDP

The NDP's financial statements show that the party had about $100,000 cash in the bank on Dec. 31, three times more than the PCs. 

The NDP, who hold two seats in the legislature, raised approximately $100,000 in political contributions last year.

NDP Leader Jim Dinn says the annual returns illustrate an "unfair advantage" benefiting the Liberals in the next election, which must take place by Oct.14.

"It certainly gives a party that is able to get that kind of funding an unfair advantage in terms of who they can hire, while other parties depend on volunteers," said Dinn. "Which is why I think we need to look at some sort of a per-voter subsidy, because every party is owned by every citizen."

Other provinces, like Quebec and Ontario, give publicly-funded subsidies to political parties based on the votes cast in the last election. 

The premier's office did not respond to an interview request.

In a statement, the Liberal Party, which will host a leadership convention on May 3, said it "values its supporters," and that "we look forward to continuing our robust fundraising efforts to prepare for the next general election."

Wakeham won leadership but lost fundraising battle

The PC Party also recently disclosed political contributions received during its leadership race in 2023.

While Wakeham won the leadership contest, he didn't receive the most donations. 

According to the three candidates' financial statements, runner-up Eugene Manning raised about 51 per cent more than Wakeham. Manning raked in $135,736 in contributions, while Wakeham received $89,907.

Third-place finisher Lloyd Parrott reported $69,718 in donations.

The numbers have never been reported before, but were provided to Radio-Canada by party president Shane Skinner last month.

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