Follow the money
Liberals and Conservatives take big money from corporate donors. Over the last two years, they have collected over $3 million from big oil and other large corporations.
Regular families can't compete. And it means that when push comes to shove, Liberals and Conservatives will stick up for their big donors over ordinary Albertans.
Since the Liberals and Conservatives won't support banning big money from politics, its important to follow the money and know who is pulling the strings in the Liberal and Conservative Parties.
Corporate money
Big corporations give way more money than regular families could ever hope to donate to a political party. And as the saying goes, he who pays the piper calls the tune...
Donations from corporations:
| Liberals 2006 | $ 249,360.68 | Conservatives 2006 | $ 1,239,658.60 |
| Liberals 2005 | $ 204,897.67 | Conservatives 2005 | $ 1,364,430.12 |
| Total: | $ 454,258.35 | $ 2,604,088.72 | |
Big oil and energy
Ever wonder who benefits from high utility prices? It's the big energy providers who give big bucks to the Liberals and Conservatives. No wonder those parties want to give big oil a break on the cost of oil royalties.
Donations from big oil and energy companies:
| Liberals 2006 | $ 103,650 | Conservatives 2006 | $ 314,550 |
| Liberals 2005 | $ 71,225 | Conservatives 2005 | $ 267,835 |
| Total: | $ 174,875 | $ 582,385 | |
Financial
Big banks and insurance companies have it good in Alberta. While every other western province has public auto insurance, Alberta has a private system that allows private insurers to charge $400 more per year. It's certainly a good investment for those financial institutions to donate to political parties.
Donations from financial institutions:
| Liberals 2006 | $ 18,150 | Conservatives 2006 | n/a |
| Liberals 2005 | $ 31,450 | Conservatives 2005 | n/a |
| Total: | $ 49,600 | n/a | |
Health
Private health care companies have been allowed to set up private clinics, and pharmaceutical producers are allowed to gouge patients for drug costs. Both groups dig deep for the Liberals and Conservatives. It is little surprise that Liberals and Conservatives have taken a long time to warm to Brian Mason's idea of bulk buying prescription drugs.
Donations from private health care corporations
| Liberals 2006 | $ 3,250 | Conservatives 2006 | n/a |
| Liberals 2005 | $ 2,300 | Conservatives 2005 | $ 55,740 |
| Total: | $ 5,550 | $ 55,740 | |
Landlords
Big landowners and property developers love the high real estate prices and sky high rent. They make big donations to political parties to make sure no one even considers rent control.
Donations from big landlords:
| Liberals 2006 | $ 2,500 | Conservatives 2006 | $ 12,100 |
| Liberals 2005 | $ 3,800 | Conservatives 2005 | $ 12,650 |
| Total: | $ 6,300 | $ 24,750 | |
Mason blowing the whistle on the Tories
Alberta New Democratic Party Leader Brian Mason blew the whistle on the Tories' corporate-friendly gas-price policy and their toothless-tiger regulatory agency.
Neil Waugh, Edmonton Sun
October 06, 2005
Brian Mason Capital Ex Family BBQ
Southwest Edm BBQ
Bilous Barn Burner Dance & Beer Social