P.E.I. PC’s raised $203,545 in 2021 – more than Liberals, Greens combined

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — P.E.I.’s governing Progressive Conservatives took in $203,545 in political contributions in 2021, a yr that noticed them enhance their seat depend within the legislature to fifteen after successful a byelection in Cornwall-Meadowbank.

The donations far eclipsed the $152,144 the PCs raised in 2020, primarily based on marketing campaign financing information released by Elections P.E.I. on July 5.

The PCs additionally raised more cash in 2021 than the mixed whole raised by the Inexperienced, Liberal and NDP events.

The Greens, who’re at present the Official Opposition, raised $62,436 whereas the third-party Liberals raised $108,799. The NDP raised $21,325.

The P.E.I. Progressive Conservatives drew virtually half of their 2021 donations from people who gave $1,500 or extra. These donors accounted for $96,013 of the PCs whole contributions in 2021 – about 47 per cent of the whole the get together raised.

The 4 largest donors to the PCs had been from the Ellis household – outstanding members of the enterprise and humanities group in Summerside. Brody Ellis, Josh Ellis, Marlene Ellis and Warren Ellis all contributed $2,992 to the Progressive Conservatives.

Accountant Troy Bradley was the fifth largest political donor in 2021, contributing $2,872 to the Tories.

In contrast, the P.E.I. Greens drew within the largest quantity from small donations. The Greens earned $25,944 from contributions below $250 – about 42 per cent of their whole donor base for 2021.

Prime 5 P.E.I. political donors in 2021

• Brody Ellis – $2,992 – PC
• Josh Ellis – $2,992 – PC
• Marlene Ellis – $2,992 – PC
• Warren Ellis – $2,992 – PC
• Troy Bradley – $2,872 – PC

Regardless of their third-party standing, in addition to their crushing election loss in 2019, the P.E.I. Liberals have maintained a wholesome donor base. The get together drew in $92,936 from donations over $250 and $15,863 from donations below $250.

It isn’t clear what number of people donated to every of the events. Whereas Elections P.E.I. collects and publishes the names of all donors who contributed greater than $250 in a calendar yr, the elections physique doesn’t accumulate information on the variety of contributors from every get together who donated lower than $250.

Present of assist

UPEI political science professor Don Desserud stated it’s normal for the governing get together to out-fundraise its opposition opponents in P.E.I. He additionally stated the scale of marketing campaign donations pales compared to the scale of political donations seen in different jurisdictions in Canada or within the US.

“Campaigns do not value as a lot as they do different locations as a result of they do not do the massive media buys,” Desserud stated. “It’s extremely a lot a neighborhood factor. It isn’t like should you had been in an enormous metropolis.”

Electoral donations are tightly regulated on P.E.I., he stated. Company donations to events are now not permitted whereas particular person contributions had been capped at $3,100 in 2021.

Desserud says he doesn’t essentially consider present political donors have an outsized affect on P.E.I. political decision-makers.

“It is way more of a social factor. It might be like donating to the Lions Membership, donating to your native church,” Desserud stated. “So far as shopping for affect, that does not occur. I have a look at this extra as a measure of what sort of assist the events are getting.”

He stated P.E.I.’s small dimension means many Islanders can have comparatively quick access to their MLA, in addition to their premier.

“On Prince Edward Island, if you name the premier, he solutions the telephone. The entry right here is fairly straightforward,” Desserud stated. “The place affect comes – and that is nonetheless a difficulty – is on the company stage. And it isn’t due to marketing campaign donations. It is due to their capacity to have an effect on the financial system in large methods.”

Desserud additionally stated the donation limits additionally restrict the affect bigger particular person donors may need.

In 2022, the utmost particular person donor limits will enhance to $3,150, Elections P.E.I. confirmed in a media assertion.

Stu Neatby is a political reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He may be reached by electronic mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @stu_neatby.