Even though final figures won't be released until months from now, the Burnaby Citizens Association will likely have the highest financial contributions this election season, when compared to the Burnaby First Coalition.
"I suspect we're running at par to 2011, maybe better, but it's difficult to say because there are a lot of expenses coming in, going out, and they all have to be separated and tallied," said BCA president Gord Larkin.
During the last election, BCA members raised and spent over $269,000, receiving a good chunk of it from trade unions. Nearly $120,000 was also collected from events like golf tournaments held between elections. In contrast, Team Burnaby spent five times less than the BCA. Team Burnaby raised $51,595 as a party, with 46 per cent coming from the candidates.
This time around is no different, according to BFC's campaign manager.
"Our campaign contributions are likely one-tenth of the union-funded BCA's. We are a truly grassroots campaign, beholden neither to big business or big union," Steve Schafer wrote in an email.
He went on to say that the campaign trail certainly hasn't been easy with limited resources.
"Though our door knocking and town hall meetings campaign has gotten the message out anyway. We're wearing out shoe leather in a very traditional election fashion," the email read.
Schafer told the NOW one of their fundraising tactics has been to ask. "It would be delightful to ask while we play golf with broad-shouldered and deep-pocketed folks, but we just throw together a fundraising dinner or two and ask for contributions along the way."
When asked to comment on critics calling the BCA a 'machine,' Larkin refuted the claim, arguing financial contributions are a way for people to show their support.
"It's no different than any other political force. If you look at the B.C. Liberals or the B.C. NDP, people give as per their beliefs and they look at the record," he said.
All parties running for office must disclose their financial contributions within 90 days after the election.
