OTTAWA — The Conservative Party had a banner fundraising year in 2024, when it nearly doubled the combined total collected by the Liberals and NDP by raising almost $41.8 million.
The Conservatives brought in nearly $12.8 million in the final quarter of 2024, according to filings with Elections Canada. The party said that $7.6 million of that sum was raised in December alone.
In all of 2024, the Liberals raised about $15.2 million and the NDP took in close to $6.3 million in donations.
Average individual donations for all three parties were less than $200.
The Conservatives recorded 211,000 donors, with an average contribution of around $198. The Liberals received donations from more than 118,000 people who gave $128 on average and the NDP saw almost 60,000 donors chip in an average of $105 each.
The fourth quarter of 2024 was the most successful fundraising quarter for all three major national parties, with the Liberals and NDP both seeing about one third of their annual donations coming in during this period.
In an emailed response, Liberal party spokesperson Parker Lund said the party is off to a strong start in 2025, having already achieved its "best-ever" January for grassroots fundraising.
The party was asked what that total was but has not yet replied.
Lund added that more than 400,000 Liberals have registered to take part in the leadership vote on Mar. 9, and more than 100 people reached out this month to run in the next election.
The Conservatives say they broke all fundraising records with their 2024 haul, including the record for most successful quarter with the $12.8 million raised in the fourth quarter of last year.
The Conservatives said the "incredible generosity" of Canadians shows leader Pierre Poilievre's message is resonating and that people want an election now.
The NDP's national director Lucy Watson said in an emailed reply their donations are driven by people "giving what they can" and the party saw its "strongest" digital fundraising day in party history on Dec. 31, 2024.
She added the NDP is ready to run a "strong election campaign."
Political parties are building up their war chests ahead of a general election that could take place as early this spring. All opposition parties are saying they will topple the government at the earliest opportunity.
The House of Commons reconvenes on Mar. 24 and the governing Liberals will quickly face a confidence vote with their throne speech.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2025.
David Baxter, The Canadian Press
