(Ottawa) The Liberals saw their donations increase in the second quarter of this year, the only increase among federal parties, even though the Conservatives continue to dominate.
Elections Canada has released the parties’ financial returns for the period from April to June of this year.
The Liberals raised nearly $3.8 million in the second quarter, up from nearly $3.1 million in the first quarter.
Most of those donations came before the Liberals’ stunning byelection defeat in late June in a long-held Toronto riding, so their impact is unclear.
The Conservatives continue to bring in more money than all other parties combined, even though their fundraising has fallen from nearly $10.7 million in the first three months of the year to just over $9.8 million in the second quarter.
The New Democrats raised nearly $1.3 million in the second quarter, a decrease of about $55,000 from the previous quarter, while the Bloc Québécois collected just under $322,000, or about $21,000 less.