The Progressive Conservative government paid a hefty price for power in last spring’s provincial election, spending more than $4.6 million on its campaign.
The party raked in just over $1.6 million and spent nearly three times that amount, running up a $3-million deficit during the campaign period, financial statements released by Elections Alberta Wednesday reveal.
Spruce Grove-St. Albert MLA Doug Horner said this spending was “out of the ordinary” for the party, but added it was necessary.
“We had a lot of misinformation out there during the campaign,” he said, adding there was a great deal of “fear mongering” by other parties that needed to be addressed.
St. Albert MLA Stephen Khan said, as a newcomer to politics, elections and campaigns, the provincial expenditures are “eye opening.”
Wildrose brought in more than $3 million during the campaign period, nearly double that of the PCs. An almost equal level of spending left the party with nearly $30,000 in the bank.
Donations to the Wildrose spiked this year, kicking the PCs out of top spot for highest donations – a spot they’ve held for roughly 40 years.
Despite the influx of donations to the Wildrose provincially, local constituencies bucked the trend.
Khan and Horner each managed to bring in more than twice the amount of all competitors combined.
Khan’s campaign team raised just over $81,000 for St. Albert’s Progressive Conservative Association, which was more than four times what Wildrose candidate James Burrows brought in, at just under $17,000.
Khan spent about $44,000 in the roughly three-month campaign period.
“We’re really proud of the amount that we spent,” he said. “It was hard getting our message out at the beginning. There was a lot of noise created by the (Wildrose) and ultimately, I think we were successful in being able to appeal to St. Albertans.”
Horner brought in more than $144,000, which tops the amounts raised in his previous two election campaigns. After expenses, the association had just over $48,000 left in the bank.
“It’s not how much you spend and how much money you raise, it’s how you resonate in the plans you put forward for Albertans that will win you an election,” he said.
Horner said he is not involved in the donation process and is often unaware of the names attached to cheques.
He received a $500 donation from Allaudin Merali, apparently the defunct chief financial officer of Alberta Health Services. Merali was fired from the health superboard this summer after claiming nearly $350,000 in food, alcohol and travel expenses.
Horner also received a $1,000 donation from his former executive assistant Tim Schultz, who vied for the PC nomination in Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock, being beat out by now MLA Maureen Kubinec.
He acknowledged the criticism surrounding donations from Oilers owner and downtown Edmonton arena proponent Daryl Katz, but said there is no reason to believe anyone broke the law.
Katz, his company and three family members donated a total of $150,000 to the PC party, with top company executives donating another $150,000.
Danielle Smith, leader of the official opposition, is calling for an investigation into the matter, adding the PC government should return the contributions.
