Separatist advertisers enter final campaign weekend with narrowing lead amid federalist push

Alberta separatists enter the final weekend of the Oct. 19 referendum campaign with about a $360,000 fundraising advantage over their federalist rivals, though that advantage has shrunk each of the past five weeks.

According to Elections Alberta’s latest advertiser contributions figures released Friday, separatist advertisers have raised $1,090,121 compared to $727,416 for federalist advertisers.

After exceeding $600,000 as recently as last month, the difference between the two sides of $362,705 is back down to where it was near the start of July.

Separatists developed a fundraising advantage from the start of the campaign, topping federalists in contributions nine of the first 10 weeks measured from the start of July.

Since then, federalists have turned the tables: outraising separatists each of the last five consecutive weeks: $410,339 for federalists versus $164,855 for separatists.

In all, just shy of $2 million was raised by all advertisers so far: $1,922,412.

Keith Wilson’s Let Alberta Decide led all third party advertisers with $581,780 gathered and approached the maximum spending limit of $607,000.

The group consistently raised $18,000 or more each week, including $103,000 in mid-July. It reported $32,624 in contributions last week, but only $1,250 the week before that and $0 this week.

The top federalist fundraising advertiser, and second-highest overall, was Alberta’s Voice: a group led by veteran political strategist Stephen Carter. Its contributions had increased to above $26,000 per week in the final six weeks of the campaign, including a $59,000 week in September and $57,000 raised the week before last.

Vote to Stay, led by a group including former premier Jason Kenney and finance minister Travis Toews, was the third-highest fundraiser with $167,191. It also topped the most recent week’s contribution count with $24,200 raised.

The second-highest fundraiser this week, and fifth-highest overall, was the Alberta Advantage Immigrant Support Society, also known as Our Alberta Advantage.

The group’s focus is primarily opposing the first five referendum questions regarding immigration, though its leader, Avnish Nanda, has stated the group also is a staunch opponent of separation.

His group raised $93,644 over the campaign, including $23,150 last week, after having gathered fewer than $40,000 in total contributions just a month earlier.

Friday’s report was the last before voting day, but Elections Alberta will issue one final report next Friday covering any contributions raised over the campaign’s final weekend.

Advertisers are required to file their reports indicating how they spent the money they raised by April 19.

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