Over two thirds of the dollars collected into Hogan’s Liberal campaign fund came from corporate donors in 2024, according to filings with Elections NL. As the provincial campaign enters the final week, Newfoundland and Labrador NDP Leader Jim Dinn zeroed in on the big money fueling both the Liberal and Conservative campaigns as both parties defend their large corporate donations – despite 8 out of 10 provinces banning the practice.
“Our candidates are knocking doors across this province and we are hearing the same thing – people want change,” said Dinn. “They’re tired of questioning why the money isn’t flowing to the people that need it most. They want a government that works on their behalf.”
According to filings with Elections NL, the Liberals raised $962,596 in 2024 – 70 per cent of which came from corporate donations. The top ten corporate donors, representing a third of all the Liberal’s donations, come directly from some businesses with lucrative contracts needing government approval: P3 construction contracts (Pennecon Ltd – $40,300 and Marco Group Ltd. – $38,900), hydro contracts (NARL Logistics Inc. – $35,900 and Everwind Fuels – $26,250) and power rate increases (Fortis/Newfoundland Power – $22,500).
The Conservatives were no different when they were in power, with hundreds of thousands in corporate donations flowing into campaign funds. Last year, they received $69,250 in corporate donations – or 57 per cent – with their largest donor Fortis, parent company of Newfoundland Power, giving them $15,000.
By sharp contrast, 65 per cent of the NDP’s donations in 2024 came from individual donors – most of which were smaller donations.
“These contracts and donations aren’t going towards creating new jobs for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. If the people aren’t the ones benefiting – who is? It’s the same old crew. It’s cash for access – let’s call it what it is.”
Hogan and the Liberals’ ten years in office has resulted in the worst job creation record in Canada – every other province has a stronger job creation rate. In August alone, the latest available data from Statistics Canada, the Hogan and the Liberals lost 3,700 full-time jobs and unemployment ticked upwards.
“This campaign: voters have a choice. Your vote matters,” said Dinn. “We have an incredible opportunity for change. We can ban big money from our politics. We can bring forward real solutions to the challenges Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are facing. That’s what NDP MHAs will fight for.”
Dinn and the New Democrats have pledged full transparency and accountability to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador – promising to ban corporate and union donations, ban out of province donations, institute individual donation caps of $1,750, publish all MHA conflict of interest reports online, and strengthen conflict of interest rules to end the revolving door of past Premiers and Cabinet Ministers cashing in as soon as they leave office to lobby their former colleagues.
Today, the NL NDP launched whopaidforthebus.ca, focusing on the Liberal bus as the image of the insider politics fueling the campaign – paid for by large corporate donors in need of government approvals and contracts.