NDP led political donations in runup to Alberta's election

Political fundraising numbers in the second quarter of thisyear shows Alberta'sgoverning NDP took in the most money but just barely.

The party slipped ahead of the Wildrose Party with help from union donations:

• NDP: $269,730
• Wildrose Party$269,356
• Progressive Conservative $259,636
• Liberal: $13,643
• Alberta Party: $5,300
• Green Party: $2,410

The second quarter tracks political donations from April 1 to June 30.

Fundsgiven to partiesduring the official campaign period fromApril 7 until election day on May 5 do not have to be reported to Elections Alberta until November meaning it's likelya majority of the second quarter tallies were donated inthe six days leading up to the spring provincial election call.

Union donations

The NDP received $17,500 from unions in amounts over $250, out of a total of $104,018.15. Donations of $250 and less arenot individually listed in the returns. Those smaller donations accounted for $165,712.46 of the NDP's total.

The NDP introduced legislation banning political donationsfrom corporations and unionsin Albertaas of June 15.

That bill, called An Act to Renew Democracy, unanimously passed third reading in the legislature last month.

The new rules applied retroactively to June 15, the day the bill was tabled in the legislature, so that parties wouldn't stockpile donations under the old rules.

Individuals can still donate amaximum of $30,000 in an election year and $15,000 in non-election years.