Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
National

Campaign fundraising error less than $10K: Greens

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Oct, 2020 09:56 PM
  • Campaign fundraising error less than $10K: Greens

The Green Party of Canada says the amount of money accidentally deposited with the party rather than Glen Murray's leadership campaign adds up to less than $10,000.

Murray says he is not yet convinced the damage stops there but credits the party with doing what it can to fix the problem.

He says the damage to his campaign has been done, preventing his team from doing some planned work because it didn't think it had the money.

The party says in a statement today it has forwarded $9,630 from 35 donors to Murray's campaign, and added under 10 people to the membership list whose memberships weren't properly approved.

The party says the donations were "incorrectly processed" but the situation has now been rectified.

Murray says media coverage of the problem has led to many phone calls from supporters who say they are concerned their donation didn't go through, or didn't get a ballot to vote in the leadership race.

He says his campaign team is focused on getting their vote out right now. Digital voting started last weekend and runs through Saturday, when the winner will be announced at an event in Ottawa.

Murray's campaign team will meet Sunday to figure out what else has to be done.

"I'm not sure at this point we'll ever get a final number," he said Thursday in an interview with The Canadian Press.

Murray said the party reported publicly on fundraising efforts by the candidates but since his numbers were incorrect, it "misrepresented" the strength of his campaign.

According to the most recently released public figures, Murray had raised $62,550 as of Aug. 31, from 353 donors.

That left him in fourth place for money raised and in sixth place for the number of donors, out of the eight candidates in the race.

Toronto activist and lawyer Annamie Paul led both counts, with $186,326 raised from 1,622 donors.

If the problem was limited to $9,630 and 35 donors, neither of Murray's placements on those lists would have changed.

Murray said he is disappointed this happened, and knows it could affect the outcome of the race but he said "the party is really going out of its way" to try to fix it.

This is the first Green leadership contest in 14 years. Former leader Elizabeth May stepped down almost a year ago, but stayed on as an MP and the parliamentary leader in the House of Commons.

None of the eight contestants running to succeed her are currently MPs. Paul is running in the current byelection in Toronto Centre, where she was also a candidate in the 2019 election.

MORE National ARTICLES

Crown gives notice of appeal in sex assault case

Crown gives notice of appeal in sex assault case
The Alberta Crown has filed a notice of appeal over the sentence given to a former Edmonton nightclub employee convicted of sexually assaulting five women.

Crown gives notice of appeal in sex assault case

Freeland expected to keep big role on U.S. file

Freeland expected to keep big role on U.S. file
Chrystia Freeland is expected to continue playing a key role in the management of Canada's relationship with the United States following her appointment this week as federal finance minister.

Freeland expected to keep big role on U.S. file

New school year begins for many Yukon students

New school year begins for many Yukon students
Students in many parts of Yukon are heading back to class for the first day of the new school year.

New school year begins for many Yukon students

N.B. parties show different campaign styles

N.B. parties show different campaign styles
The sharp contrast in campaigning styles between the Progressive Conservatives and Liberals in New Brunswick's election was on full display Thursday.

N.B. parties show different campaign styles

Alert issued for missing Cape Breton teen

Alert issued for missing Cape Breton teen
The Native Women's Association of Canada has joined a chorus of voices calling on the RCMP to issue an Amber Alert in connection with the disappearance of a Cape Breton teenager who has not been seen for one week.

Alert issued for missing Cape Breton teen

Liberals take steps to changing drug policy

Liberals take steps to changing drug policy
The Liberal government taking steps toward promised changes to federal drug policy, while looking at how to reduce opioid-related deaths during the pandemic.

Liberals take steps to changing drug policy