Alberta NDP donations up substantially this year

The Alberta NDP raised as much in the first two weeks of April as it didin the first three months of the year.

The NDP received $406,883 in political donations from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2015, second to the Progressive Conservative party, which raisedtwice as much.

NDP officials say since April 1,their party was able to raise another $400,000.

In comparison, the party received $123,898 in donations during the first quarter of 2014.

The money has allowedthe party to buy television airtime during the Calgary Flames playoff games.

Political analyst Robert Murray from the Frontier Centre for Public Policy says its a good way for the NDP to broaden their appeal.

"This is a very good opportunity for them to show people that they're serious about going after markets outside of Edmonton," he said.

In the first three months of the year, the Tories received $825,318 in donations. The party is alsorunning ads across the playoffs.

"This is one of the huge advantages that the PCs have is a gigantic war chest," Murray said. "Which is why they're able to put out as many ads during prime time, during newscasts,"

"They're able to get their message out far more effectively and far more widespread than any other party in the province."

The Wildrose raised $355,092 in the first quarter of 2015. The Liberals and Alberta Party received nearly equal amounts of political contributions of money, $110,765 and $109,272 respectively.