Following the United Conservative Party government’s decision to reinstate corporate donations to provincial politics, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s party has received over $471,000 in contributions from injury lawyers, car dealers, and various businesses. This amount represents more than a quarter of all donations to the UCP in the latest reporting period. The corporate donations exceeded the fundraising gap of $437,000 between the United Conservatives ($1.63 million) and the NDP ($1.19 million) in the third quarter of this year, as reported by Elections Alberta.
The legislation introduced by the Smith government in July allowed for corporate and union contributions, overturning a ban put in place by the previous NDP administration in 2015. The UCP has significantly benefitted from this change compared to the NDP. During the period between July and September, the New Democrats received a mere $7,100 from six corporations and no donations from trade unions, while the UCP amassed close to half a million dollars from 244 corporations.
Corporate donors to the UCP included car dealerships, farms, ranches, land developers, construction companies, and energy firms like Enbridge and Cenovus. Notably, many personal injury lawyers contributed to the UCP through their professional corporations, with over 20 lawyers donating a total of $78,750. This support comes amidst opposition from injury lawyers against the government’s proposed auto insurance reforms, which are expected to impact the legal sector.
While some lawyers expressed concerns about the need for donations to engage with the government on important issues, others clarified that their contributions were not aimed at buying influence. The UCP’s fundraising advantage over the NDP has been attributed to corporate donations, with the UCP raising $6.4 million in 2025 compared to the NDP’s $3.8 million.
The NDP criticized the UCP’s decision to allow corporate donations, raising concerns about transparency and the influence of “dark money” in politics. However, the UCP defended the move, stating that it allows for a wider range of voices to be heard while ensuring transparency in donor disclosure.
Alberta remains one of the few provinces allowing corporate and union donations in politics, with a cap of $5,000 per year per entity. The Smith government has also extended this allowance to municipal politics ahead of recent civic elections across Alberta.