Alberta 2008 General Election “financial” Results

[First Lady]

The financials for the 2008 General Election campaign period (Feb. 4th to May 3rd.) are now public on Elections Alberta site. I was pretty confident the WRP would end up in a better situation than the opposition parties; but I never dreamed we would out do Ed Stelmachs PC's......

GRN $ (20,094.50) Deficit
LIB $ (162,683.62) Deficit
NDP $ (351,257.94) Deficit
PC $ (2,426,412.00) DEFICIT.

Yup, double checked it is nearly 2.5 Million and is deficit.

WRP $ 49,409.41 SURPLUS

Remind me again; who is the "fiscally responsible" party in this province???

Source: http://www.electionsalberta.ab.....cfm?MID=FP

[jolinar of malkshor]

Nice to see that the WRA doesn't have to contend with a debt but to the PC's credit they have 5 years and thousands of members to donate and get it paid off. If you divide it between the number of members I am sure it probably not much different from the rest of the parties.

[Coach]

Sorry if I seem way out this one. I know the other 4....but who is the WRP?

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

Nice to see that the WRA doesn't have to contend with a debt but to the PC's credit they have 5 years and thousands of members to donate and get it paid off.

Agreed. They also have a huge "fund" that they draw considerable amoutn of interest from.

Plus this is just a 3-month snap shot of 2008.

If you divide it between the number of members I am sure it probably not much different from the rest of the parties.

Sure we can try and decipher all sorts of stuff from the numbers.

If you look simply at the "contributions" during that time PC's raised 580,000 and the WRP (Wildrose Alliance Party) 513,000; looking at those numbers you would think we had a very similiar membership base..... Many would argue that we do not have near their numbers.... lol, but I am not talking...

It is also noteworthy that their contributions of 580,000.00 in 2008 is down significantly from the 2,094,533.00 in 2004.

[Kjesse]

Cool link, thanks!

I'll be going through that for a while, I find it very interesting.

(There is one candidate's personal filing that I don't believe whatsoever.... but hey I won't take the risk of defaming someone!)

Highlights:

-PC party based donations were down massively, as you mentioned
-PC donations are broader based than any other party (lots of oil companies, construction firms, lawyers, 'known' party activists.... but one doesn't stick out over the others... they also got 'punished' by some oil companies for their stance on royalties...(look at Encana lol.. 15K to PC's, 30K to Lib, 30K to WRA.)
-PC's transferred NO money to their candidates, these were province wide advertising expenses... a sharp contrast from the other parties.

-Liberal party donations included proportionately lots of lawyers. Also had oil company backing, moreso than the PC's. Also had the media, and banks. Eastern money flows in to the West for them!

-NDP had the unions, some 'name' activists, some old money.

-WRA was the oil company party of choice (very small companies and very large), rewarded for their press release on the royalty position. Also, wow, the Thorsteinson's are rich! 3 family members donated 30K each for 90K....
-WRA donations went to the candidates as opposed to a provincial advertisings campaign... individual candidates couldn't scrape 2 nickels together in most instances.

I guess I'd say... no surprises here!

-The PC's outspent everyone else combined in many ridings, but also had the individual campaign contributions to carry it.

-I'm really impressed with Kent Hehr's campaign... he rolled that riding in convincing fashion and spent a reasonable sum... gives me hope that people do pay attention to what the candidates are saying.

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by First Lady

If you look simply at the "contributions" during that time PC's raised 580,000 and the WRP (Wildrose Alliance Party) 513,000; looking at those numbers you would think we had a very similiar membership base..... Many would argue that we do not have near their numbers.... lol, but I am not talking...

Lol, you must have read this, I sure have: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Lie_with_Statistics

If WRA wants to prosper it needs to attract a more serious membership base that is willing to support its candidates. No candidate for the WRA is going to win an election with an individual budget of a thousand bucks.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Delgar

If WRA wants to prosper it needs to attract a more serious membership base that is willing to support its candidates. No candidate for the WRA is going to win an election with an individual budget of a thousand bucks.

We transferred nearly 50% ( over $ 200,000 ) to our candidates. The PC's transferred 0 (zero) to theirs. Those are facts, not lies.

The PC's recruited their candidates by telling them they would get a fat raise once they were in office. Which they did.


OOPs... sorry didn't see your earlier post.... I will read now....* blush *

[calf]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

PC's credit they have 5 years and thousands of members to donate and get it paid off.

They had reserves upwards of $4 million going into the election, from the same site.

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by First Lady

We transferred nearly 50% ( over $ 200,000 ) to our candidates. The PC's transferred 0 (zero) to theirs. Those are facts, not lies.

The PC's recruited their candidates by telling them they would get a fat raise once they were in office. Which they did.


OOPs... sorry didn't see your earlier post.... I will read now....* blush *

Not meant as an attack.... just highlighting that the details of those contributions tell a story much different than the gross figures would indicate... and if you haven't read that book pick it up, it really is a great resource... the word "lie" in the title is used tongue-in-cheek.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Delgar

Cool link, thanks!

I'll be going through that for a while, I find it very interesting.

(There is one candidate's personal filing that I don't believe whatsoever.... but hey I won't take the risk of defaming someone!)

Hmmm... mine ? .... LOL...

Please send PM.

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Hmmm... mine ? .... LOL...

Please send PM.

Haha no not you... though I'll give you a hint... this candidate has threatened to sue others before... (that's probably too obvious for you!)