The Conservatives are providing an interesting test of how much fundraising dominance – which has, to some extent, shaped their party’s identity – is worth in modern Canadian politics
That is not, thankfully, an actual image that his Conservatives have opted to go with in a spate of advertisements airing in heavy rotation. In most of the spots, which carry the message that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not what he presented himself as four years ago, Mr. Scheer does not appear at all.
Under Stephen Harper’s leadership, the Conservatives were the first party to master soliciting small donations, as required under modern political financing rules that ban corporate, union and large personal contributions. And they have solidified their edge since returning to opposition. Their $8-million haul in 2019′s first quarter was more than double the $3.8-million that the Liberals brought in, consistent with general patterns.
Plainly, more money to spend is still preferable to less – and not just when it comes to advertising, traditional or digital. The Tories can afford more staff and other resources between elections. They don’t have to worry much about taking on debt while spending the campaign maximum. And there are ways that they can effectively outspend their rivals even once spending limits kick in, including transfers from the party to the riding level.
In government and especially in opposition, the Conservatives’ choices of positions they adopt or issues they emphasize – from gun rights to matters of foreign policy – have often seemed heavily influenced by fundraising. On occasion, party insiders have responded to questions about more hard-line messaging choices, such as on the government’s handling of asylum seekers, by citing how well they’ve played with donors.
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