The Conservative Party of BC received more than $380,000 in donations than the BC NDP during the final quarter ahead of the Oct. 19 election that saw the latter party squeak by with the slimmest of majority governments.
Elections BC reported the Conservatives received $3,390,562 between July 1 and Sept. 30 wheres the incumbent NDP received $3,010,166; The BC Green Party received $608,134.
At the start of the year, during the first quarter, the Conservatives received $383,954 compared to the NDP receiving $1,120,251 and the now defunct BC United receiving $830,642.
In late August, BC United effectively closed its campaign with leader Kevin Falcon endorsing the Conservatives and its leader John Rustad as polls consistently showed support for the Conservatives over BC United, the re-branded BC Liberal Party.
Eligible parties also receive $1.75 per valid vote received in the last general election. This amount, paid from the tax base, is adjusted annually for changes to the consumer price index.
Elections BC's final count, pending three judicial recounts, shows the NDP got 943,915 votes, the Conservatives got 910,180 and the Greens got 173,382; as such, the parties are to receive $1,746,000, $1,684,000 and $321,000, respectively via the legislation.
The sum going to the Conservatives is in stark contrast to the $31,414 it received last election.
The 2024 election was the second election where corporate and union donations were banned in 2017, leaving individual donations to be capped annually at $1,200, plus inflation.
For 2024, a person can give a total of $1,370.68 to a local elections candidate or elector organization per campaign, according to Elections BC.
