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Premier Scott Moe’s Saskatchewan Party has received millions of more dollars in donations compared with rivals ahead of this year’s election.
Fiscal returns to Elections Saskatchewan show the governing party raised $3.6 million from donors last year, compared to $1.4 million raised for the Opposition New Democrats.
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The Saskatchewan United Party (SUP), which has one member in the legislature, took in more than $500,000, including $200,000 from a company with ties to the party’s deputy leader.
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The Saskatchewan Party spent the most in 2023 at $2,417,603.86, while the NDP spent $1,577,995.86. The SUP spent third most at $683,033.27.
While many provinces have restrictions on how much corporations and unions can donate to a political party or candidate, with some having banned it outright, in Saskatchewan, corporations, unions and associations are allowed to donate to political parties.
Over the years, the NDP has called for more restrictions on how much corporations can donate to a party. Former leader Ryan Meili once called such contributions a “corrupting influence.”
“Our party’s position on that has been very clear,” said NDP ethics and democracy critic Meara Conway after question period earlier this month.
The party has introduced private member legislation to ban union and corporate donations to political parties in the province.
No election date has been set, but Saskatchewan residents are to go to the polls by the end of October.
— with files from Alec Salloum
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2024.
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