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Abbott campaign releases donor list

George Abbott today became the second Liberal leadership candidate to release his list of campaign donors.

While B.C. election laws require leadership campaigns to publicly disclose their donations, they don't require it until after voting is over. Candidate Mike de Jong released his campaign donations on Feb. 11 and challenged the others in the race to do the same.

During a debate broadcast on Shaw Cable on Feb. 20 Abbott committed to disclosing his list of donors, while Christy Clark said she would comply with the law and make hers available after Liberal Party members pick a new leader Feb. 26.

Falcon was not asked during the debate whether he will release his donation information before the vote and his campaign spokesperson didn't immediately have an answer today.

The list Abbott released included $427,842 from some 300 donors. They include many individuals and a wide variety of businesses. Some notable names include Finavera Renewables Inc. ($2,000), Aquilini Investment Group ($10,000), Encana Corporation ($3,000), former Encana executive Gwyn Morgan ($5,000), Telus Corporation ($5,000), Western Forest Products Inc. ($5,000) and Aquilini Investment Group ($10,000).

The full list as of Feb. 21 is available here.

And while Peter Armstrong has publicly endorsed Falcon, his Great Canadian Railtour Company Ltd. gave $2,000 to Abbott's campaign.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.


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