Alberta’s NDP has crushed the UCP in first-quarter fundraising, figures from Elections Alberta show..In the first quarter of 2021, the NDP raised $1,186,245.03..That left the UCP in their dust, as they only raised $521,589,86..It’s another bad omen for Premier Jason Kenney who has had to deal with a tidal wave of bad news so far this year..The Snowbird scandal, the Keystone XL investment, the UCP failed coal policy and growing unrest over his party’s continuing COVID-19 lockdown have seen support for the party fall to the mid-20% range..It’s the worst fundraising quarter in party history..In the report, the number of donations to the NDP takes up 24 pages. In comparison, the UCP is only at 14 pages..Elections Alberta said the Alberta Party came third with $43,394.09, the Wildrose Independence Party fourth with $32,271.00, and the Liberals fifth with $31,798.53..“With the onset of new restrictions, our party has taken measures to respect and moderate our fundraising activities in the first quarter, but we remain incredibly grateful for the generous support of conservatives from right across the province with nearly $600,000 raised for the party and our constituency associations,” UCP party president Ryan Becker said in a statement..“We are saving resources toward our Campaign Victory Fund now and believe that with a successful vaccine rollout around the corner, we can start revving up our election readiness and fundraising machine later this year to pre-COVID levels as we build towards the 2023 election.”.NDP leader Rachel Notley thanked her supporters..“We are just getting started,” she said in a statement..“We have so much work to do to create jobs, diversify the economy, support public healthcare and education, and more..“We have momentum and we are so humbled to see the support from so many people as we work to build Alberta’s future. Having that money is really an advantage to a party because it’s a symbol of support and that’s what they want, but anything can happen between now and the next election,” she said..Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams said the figures are another problem for Kenney..“I’ve been watching a few indicators, as I’m sure are Alberta voters, MLAs and political strategists. Common indicators of political shifts include; the polls, party fundraising, dissension within the ranks, and available alternatives. Kenney continues to bleed support on the first three,” said Williams..“It appears, both in the polls and in UCP caucus behaviour, that some Albertans who are angry at Kenney or the party are undecided about where to move their support. However if a credible, competent alternative emerges, a leader or party that offers a better vision, things could shift rapidly..“Danielle Smith and Rachel Notley both offered such an alternative in the past, suggesting that it may not matter where the visionary falls on the political spectrum. There is enormous opportunity for political leaders and parties at the moment. The question is whether one of them will be able to seize it.”.Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
