As the holiday season focuses minds on family and charitable giving, Ontario's major political parties are making a concerted push for year-end donations, a move critics are calling ill-timed and tone-deaf.
Fundraising Frenzy During the Giving Season
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario is in a particular rush, aiming to raise $250,000 before the year ends. In a recent email, PC Ontario Fund executive director Kelly Lamb emphasized the need to stay prepared to "beat the Liberals and the NDP," despite the next provincial election being at least three years away. The party is reminding supporters that there are only a couple of weeks left to secure a tax deduction for the 2025 year.
They are not alone in their efforts. An Ontario Liberal Party spokesperson confirmed they are currently fundraising through email, digital advertising, mail, and phone calls. A visit to the Ontario Liberals' website prominently features a flashing donation button and highlights that a $60 contribution yields a $45 tax return. Similarly, the Ontario NDP's site includes a helpful calculator for donors to estimate their tax credit.
A Clash with Charitable Priorities
This political fundraising blitz directly competes with the most crucial time of year for legitimate charities. According to the online charity platform Canada Helps, one-third of all annual donations are processed in December, making it the busiest month by far.
Commentator Randall Denley, a former PC candidate, argues it is "unseemly" for parties to vie for dollars during this period. He suggests parties should "lay low" and allow genuine charities access to donors, especially since recently passed legislation provides provincial parties with generous public subsidies indefinitely.
Insatiable Appetite for Cash Questioned
Denley, who receives frequent fundraising appeals despite not having donated to the PCs in over a decade, points to the inherent disconnect. He received one pitch this week from the PC Fund and another last week from Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli, who highlighted over $1 billion in investment attracted by the government in just five days.
The core criticism remains one of timing and perception. When individuals and families are prioritizing gifts, festive meals for the less fortunate, children's hospitals, and donations to organizations like the Salvation Army, the extended hand of political machinery appears out of sync with the spirit of the season. The parties' "insatiable desire for cash," as Denley puts it, is seen as competing with causes that have immediate and profound human impact.
