Chrystia Freeland's Liberal leadership campaign is questioning the fundraising figures released by Elections Canada. Freeland's team insists these numbers do not accurately reflect her financial standing in the race's initial phase. While Elections Canada's data shows Mark Carney leading the pack with $1.9 million raised, Freeland's campaign remains debt-free, according to her account. The financial dynamics of the leadership contest are heating up as candidates prepare for the next critical phase.
Mark Carney leads the fundraising race with 11,260 contributions totaling $1.9 million. Meanwhile, Karina Gould has raised $236,075 from 1,375 contributions, placing her ahead of Freeland in the official report. Frank Baylis and Ruby Dhalla follow with $227,441 and $144,880, respectively. These figures highlight the competitive nature of the leadership contest as candidates vie for financial support and political momentum.
Freeland's campaign has held nearly ten fundraisers to boost its financial standing and mitigate the impact of the fundraising report. Despite being debt-free, Freeland's team emphasizes that the numbers don't fully capture her campaign's progress. According to Freeland’s account:
“Campaigns could either receive donations directly or let the Liberal party hold onto them — we’re the only campaign who chose the latter.”
The steep $350,000 entry fee for leadership candidates has prompted a scramble for donations early in the race. Parker Lund, a spokesperson for the Liberal party, explained:
“The party can withhold part or all of the contribution to cover a contestant’s contest fee or other administrative expenses.”
The timeline for gathering support is crucial as the next set of fundraising data is set to be released just days before the March 9 vote.
Carney's campaign has also been active in seeking support, holding two fundraisers in Vancouver and Ottawa. Notably, former Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has contributed to both Carney and Freeland's campaigns. Additionally, Stephen Bronfman, the Liberal's current chief revenue officer, and Gerry Butts, a former principal secretary to Justin Trudeau, have donated to Carney’s campaign.
Emily Jackson, a representative from Carney's team, expressed confidence in their campaign's trajectory:
“The latest fundraising numbers confirm what we’ve been feeling on the ground — our momentum is growing each day.”
While Freeland's campaign disputes the numbers released by Elections Canada for the period ending February 9, they remain focused on building momentum through strategic fundraising efforts. As both camps continue their fundraising activities, they brace for further developments in this high-stakes leadership race.
