In addition to a huge spike in campaign donations following BC United’s capitulation, the BC Conservatives are expected to receive nearly $1.7 million in per-vote subsidies for future operating costs.
The Conservative Party of BC received more than $380,000 in donations than the BC NDP during the final quarter leading up to the Oct. 19 election, with the latter party coming out with the smallest majority government.
Elections BC reported that the Conservatives received $3,390,562 between July 1 and September 30, while the incumbent NDP received $3,010,166; The BC Green Party received $608,134.
At the beginning of the year, during the first quarter, the Conservatives received $383,954, while the NDP received $1,120,251 and the now-defunct BC United received $830,642.
In late August, BC United effectively concluded its campaign, with leader Kevin Falcon supporting the Conservatives and its leader John Rustad, as polls consistently showed support for the Conservatives over BC United, the renamed BC Liberal Party.
Eligible parties will also receive $1.75 per valid vote received in the last general election. This amount, paid from the tax base, is adjusted annually to reflect changes in the consumer price index.
The latest BC election count, pending three judicial recounts, shows the NDP received 943,915 votes, the Conservatives 910,180 and the Greens 173,382; as such, the parties will receive $1,746,000, $1,684,000 and $321,000, respectively, through the legislation.
The amount going to the Conservatives is in stark contrast to the $31,414 it received in the previous election.
The 2024 election was the second election to ban corporate and union donations in 2017, limiting individual donations to $1,200 annually, plus inflation.
According to Elections BC, in 2024, a person can donate a total of $1,370.68 to a local election candidate or election organization per campaign.
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