Ontario byelection in Sudbury helped Liberals raise $2.2M

Could byelections become the latest way for political partiesto get rich quick?

CBC News has learned the Ontario Liberalsraised 26 times more money than they were allowed to spend in the February 2015Sudburybyelection, which was won by Liberal Glenn Thibeault.

• Kathleen Wynne promises to close byelection fundraising loophole
• Ontario Liberals raised $1.6M for just one byelection

Newly revealednumbers show the Liberals raised $2,223,531. The spending limit in Sudburywas about $83,000, whichmeans they raised 26 times more money than they were allowed to spend.

In comparison, the Progressive Conservatives raised$512,786, and the New Democrats raised$59,638.

The fundraising bonanza shows how donors with deep pockets can give far more than the annual limits,through loopholes in the campaign finance laws.

The maximum donation one can give to any political party in this province is just under $10,000each year, unless there's an election, or a byelection.In that case, donors can give almost $10,000for the year plus another $10,000for each campaign.

The Elections Ontario data shows 101 donors gave the Liberals that maximum ($9,975).

The Liberals raised $4 million during twobyelectionsin 2014,in additionto the $2.6 million they raised during the general election campaign.