Referendum TPA donation roundup: Federalist groups outperform independence supporters' weekly contributions

EDMONTON — Third-party advertisers fighting for Albertans to vote in favour of Alberta remaining in Canada outfundraised pro-independence groups during the most recent reporting period, marking the first week in which they have done so since the question was announced. According to reports published by Elections Alberta on Friday, groups advertising on either side of Alberta's independence referendum question combined to raise $63,520 between Aug. 14 and 20, after a tight battle saw the federalists groups edge out nationalists by $710. Federalist fundraising was primarily carried by "Alberta's Voice," which raised $13,865 to nudge past the $100,000 for their overall campaign, and $17,900 from "Vote to Stay." The other four groups fighting to remain in Canada combined to raise $350, bringing the side's weekly total to $32,115. Keith Wilson and Tanya Clemens' "Let Alberta Decide" shouldered much of the donations for pro-independence TPAs, as they have done throughout much of the campaign, raising $19,738 of the nationalist side's $31,405 gathered during the week. The other remaining pro-independence TPAs combined to raise $11,667 during the reporting period, including $5,045 from "North Alberta Strong," which elevated its campaign total by 30% to $16,969. Neither Stay Free Alberta nor Forever Canadian reported any financial contributions during the reporting period. .Despite the weekly win for the federalist TPAs, they remain $558,331 behind nationalist groups in overall campaign totals, with the federalist TPAs at $781,708 and the nationalist groups at $223,776. The two highest-funded TPAs are both pro-independence, as Let Alberta has raised over $435,059 and "Pathway to Independence" has raised $118,650. Alberta's Voice and Vote to Stay sit third and fourth on the overall leaderboard. Albertans have donated over $1 million to TPAs on either side of the debate since Premier Danielle Smith announced the question in May.

Referendum TPA donation roundup: Federalist groups outperform independence supporters' weekly contributions

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