Given that the party has 4 million in the kitty and intends to spend just 2 million on the campaign perhaps the party isn't too worried! The opposition parties have only a small fraction of two million to spend as the article shows.
Imagine the grumpiness of the corporate kingmakers when Ed Stelmach has that 4 million to spend instead of the oilmaker's likely choice, Jim Dinning.
Alta Tory insider says corporate Calgary refusing donations to Stelmach campaign
2 days ago
CALGARY - Grumpiness over a planned $1.4-billion increase in energy royalties appears to be costing Alberta's Progressive Conservatives their usual windfall of corporate donations as the party campaigns for the March 3 election.
"It's very difficult to raise dough in Calgary these days," a member of the Tories' powerful finance committee told The Canadian Press on Friday.
"The oil and gas industry feels betrayed from this government, and that's reflected in the amount of money we can't raise."
"About 70 per cent of our money we traditionally raise out of Calgary, so when you see a big drop in the Calgary fundraising, it hurts."
Premier Ed Stelmach announced the royalty increase last fall after a review by a government-appointed committee. The new formula is to take effect next January and the government expects to reach the $1.4-billion figure by 2010 - a 20 per cent increase over currently projected revenues for that year.
Royalty reform is not the only irritant. Some Calgary Tories have been grumbling ever since Stelmach won the party leadership over Jim Dinning, a corporate executive from Calgary, in December 2006.
Last summer, the Tories lost a byelection in what should have been the safest of seats, Calgary Elbow, which was held for years by former leader Ralph Klein.
Tory campaign spokesman Paul Stanway described any fundraising problems in Calgary as "ancient history," but wouldn't provide details.
"In fact, there's been an uptick in that sort of support from Calgary," he said. "But what we're raising is none of (your) business at this point."
The chairman of the finance committee in Calgary was not available for comment. A call Friday to the party's executive director was not returned.
The Conservative war chest was close to $4 million when the election was called. The bankroll dwarfs the finances of political rivals, but the finance committee member said the party will spend roughly half of the money on this year's campaign.
"This election is going to cost us approximately $2 million," he said. "But normally we like to have enough money around to run two elections."
The New Democrats, who refuse to take corporate donations, will spend $750,000 on the campaign. The Alberta Liberals haven't released their campaign budget, but still have more than $400,000 in debt from the 2001 election.
Stanway refused to confirm how much the Tories are spending. He did say it's more than usual so as to counter union-sponsored TV attack ads aimed at Stelmach's leadership.
"I'm not going to put a number on it, but I will tell you that this is certainly a much more ambitious campaign than the party has done in recent years," said Stanway, who is also the premier's communications director.
The Tories held 60 of 83 seats when the election was called and have enjoyed 10 straight majorities dating back three dozen years. The party constitution requires a leadership review within a year or two following an election, so Stelmach will have to win another strong majority to secure his future, said the source.
"I think the magic number for Ed is 50 (seats). I think anything 50 or under and he's in trouble."
The insider also said he started getting a sense earlier this week that undecided votes were starting to slip away from Stelmach's Conservatives.
"The polls aren't indicating it yet, but we're in trouble in Calgary," he said. "People started landing on the decided side and it wasn't with the Tories."
A member of Klein's inner circle also told The Canadian Press that fundraising problems were becoming apparent in corporate Calgary.
"This is serious stuff," said the one-time Klein staffer. "The finance committee is more powerful than people think. If they can't raise money, they can have a great influence on the leader's future."
The finance committee member recalls how the 30-member committee forced Don Getty to step aside as premier when the Tories experienced a similar fundraising drought in 1992.
"This is the committee that told Getty, 'The time has come. We can't raise money out of Calgary under your leadership,"' he said. "So, yeah, they're a very influential group."
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