AB Today – Daily Report January 24, 2019

Quotation of the day

“Ever since contribution limits were introduced, people have not kept track of it very well.”

Deputy chief electoral officer Drew Westwater says all of Alberta’s political parties are guilty of allowing individual donors to exceed the province’s $4,000 annual fundraising cap (via Edmonton Journal).

Today in AB

On the schedule

The legislature will reconvene on March 18 for the government’s final throne speech before the spring election.

UCP out-fundraises NDP by $3.2 million in 2018

In the year ahead of the election, Alberta’s political parties were busy building up their war chests — and according to Elections Alberta’s official fundraising numbers released this week, some were very successful.

The United Conservative Party brought in $6.66 million in donations, almost double the $3.4 million the Alberta NDP raised, according to the year-end financial statements.

The data reveals the UCP is doing well with small-scale donors. Jason Kenney’s party collected $2.3 million from donors who gave less than $250 over the course of the year, compared to just $750,000 the NDP raised from those donating under the same threshold.

Three quarters of the NDP’s donations came from donors who gave more than $250 to the party, compared to about two-thirds of the donations received by the UCP.

The UCP’s biggest success was its fourth quarter fundraising push: The party brought it $3.9 million in Q3 alone, more than the NDP raised all year.

The province’s new political fundraising regime, which was brought in by the NDP in 2016, caps individual donations at $4,000. That hasn’t appeared to hinder the parties’ ability to generate cash — but according to the financial statements, some donors have had trouble following the rules.

A handful of donors to all major parties cracked the $4,000 spending limit last year, requiring Alberta’s Election Commissioner to launch a penalty process for over-contributors.

● The UCP had 21 donors who gave more than the $4,000 limit in 2018; ● The NDP had 11 individuals over-contribute; ● The Alberta Party had three donors spend over the $4,000 limit; and ● The Alberta Liberal Party had two donors who went overboard.

Deputy chief electoral officer Drew Westwater told the Edmonton Journal that, “Ever since contribution limits were introduced, people have not kept track of it very well.” Per Westwater, it is up to parties to track how much their donors pledge per year to ensure they don’t accidentally overcast their net — which can lead to both the party and the donor catching a fine.

Most of the individuals who over-donated did so by less than $200 — making it likely the crimes were prompted by ignorance rather than malice.

The NDP’s fundraising reform was designed to keep big money out of politics. However, some argue it has turned the province’s big money into dark money that is being funnelled into third-party PACs, which still allow union and corporate donations, although with limitations. For PACs, the “election period” officially began last December 1. Since then, third-party advertisers have raised more than $600,000. The bulk of the money was raised by Kenney-friendly PAC Shaping Alberta’s Future ($277,000) and the Rachel Notley-friendly Alberta Teachers’ Association ($270,000).

Each PAC has a $150,000 limit on spending during the election writ period.

Here are the 2018 fundraising totals for parties and their constituency associations:

● United Conservative Party: $6,662,562.75 ● Alberta New Democratic Party: $3,390,214.45 ● Alberta Party: $594,177.12 ● Alberta Liberal Party: $196,464.13 ● Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta: $39,776 ● Green Party of Alberta: $20,324.85 ● Reform Party of Alberta: $5,800 ● Alberta Advantage Party: $5,135.42 ● Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta: $2,500 ● Wildrose Party: $1,825 ● Communist Party — Alberta: $300 ● Pro-Life Alberta Political Association: $0

Today’s events January 24 at 12:30 p.m. – Edmonton

Premier Rachel Notley will address the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce as part of the organization’s Leaders Series at the Westin Hotel in downtown Edmonton.

January 24 at 3 p.m. – Stony Plain

Stony Plain NDP MLA Erin Babcock will announce improvements to Highway 628 at the Stony Plain Town Office.

January 24 at 5 p.m. – Calgary

Finance Minister Joe Ceci will speak at a groundbreaking ceremony at the Calgary Zoo about a new supportive housing development down the block.

January 24 at 6:30 p.m. – Edmonton and area

Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips will host the fourth telephone town hall consultation on the Bighorn Country proposal. The government cancelled in-person information sessions, citing threats to attendees and staff, but said it would reconsider if staff could be reassured of safety. The province is also taking online feedback until February 15.

Topics of conversation

● UCP Leader Jason Kenney had a salty response to Premier Rachel Notley’s pick for best snack in Edmonton — saying he prefers movie theatre popcorn to Notley’s Lebanese spinach pie selection. ● Kenney told CBC’s Edmonton AM morning show’s Snack Checker competition that he has “many times” gone to movie theatre just for the popcorn. ○ What does the UCP leader think of Notley’s spinach fatayer fave? “To me, that is so NDP, telling people to eat their spinach," Kenney said.

● The yellow vest rally wasn’t the only protest to move through city streets on Tuesday. Close to 100 people blocked a busy downtown Edmonton intersection at rush hour with a round dance and demonstration in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en Nation in B.C. ○ Hereditary chiefs and some members of the Wet'suwet'en Nation oppose the Coastal GasLink LNG pipeline project, which runs through unceded territory.

● Alberta cattle ranchers have a beef with the latest edition of Canada’s Food Guide, but pulse producers are singing its praises. ○ Gordon Bacon, chief executive officer of Pulse Canada, told the Western Producer the new guidelines — which encourage the consumption of more plant-based protein — could change the way people see lentils. ○ Meanwhile, the Alberta Beef Producers are questioning whether a serving of plant-based protein like tofu is really more nutritious than eating beef. ○ P.S. Juice is no longer considered a fruit.

● Anti-tobacco advocates are sounding the alarm over sections of the Alberta Tobacco Reduction Amendment Act set to expire within the next year. ○ The sections, which will lapse unless the government enacts them, include a ban on e-cigarettes in indoor spaces. ○ However, Health Minister Sarah Hoffman contends the recent passage of federal vaping laws has paved the way for her ministry to make Alberta-specific decisions as it reviews tobacco legislation.

● The dismal performance of the Edmonton Oilers and subsequent firing of GM Peter Chiarelli may be grabbing headlines, but the Oilers spun some goodwill when they hosted 250 oil and gas sector workers and their families at Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. ○ “We understand that they are going through a tough time right now, and we recognize how important they are to the economy and livelihoods in Alberta and throughout Canada,” said Oilers Entertainment Group CEO and vice-chair Bob Nicholson.

● The Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) will no longer enforce the Animal Protection Act, the charity said in a statement.

○ The EHS blamed the decision on changes to the province’s Peace Officers Act that increased requirements for who could be hired as a peace officer. ○ The not-for-profit organization does not receive provincial funding for enforcement activities, and instead relies on donations and funding from the City of Edmonton. ○ EHS board chair Summer Bradko said the organization is working to help shift the responsibility to another agency.

Funding announcements

● Premier Rachel Notley announced $1 million for a new Indigenous Languages Resource Centre at the Calgary Public Library on Wednesday. ○ The new library program aims to make Indigenous resources more accessible and help preserve First Nations history, culture and language.

AB Today is written by Catherine Griwkowsky, reporting from Alberta's legislative press gallery.

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