Conservative Party reports record-breaking fundraising haul in 2023

The Conservative Party reported a record-breaking fundraising haul in the fourth quarter of last year: more than $11.9 million collected from about 66,000 donors, according to Elections Canada data.

That eye-popping figure made 2023 one of the party's best fundraising years since its founding two decades ago.

The party collected more than $35 million from about 200,000 donation over 2023.

That's more than the party reported collecting in 2022 — which was a leadership election year, when party supporters were busy cutting cheques for their preferred candidates.

The Tories collected $9.6 million from 60,666 donors in the fourth quarter of 2022 (the last three months of the year are usually the best period for party fundraising). The Conservative Party brought in about $22 million in total in 2022.

The party's improved fundraising performance in 2023 suggests Conservative supporters were more willing to open their wallets with leader Pierre Poilievre at the helm.

«In Pierre Poilievre's first full year as Conservative Party Leader, the party broke all fundraising records for any political party in Canadian history, bringing in a record $35.2 million in 2023,» the party said in a media statement.

«It couldn't be more clear that Canadians want change.»

«These results prove support for my common sense plan to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime,» Poilievre added.

The previous fundraising record for a non-election year was set by the Conservative Party in 2018, when it raised $24.2 million.

Flush with cash, the Tories have the resources to spend big in this pre-election period on pricey TV ads and social media canvassing.

Robert Staley, the chair of the Conservative Fund, the party's fundraising arm, told policy