Ontario Liberal leadership candidates begin paying hefty entry fees

Thestar.com
August 23, 2019
Robert Benzie

The rubber is starting to hit the road in the Ontario Liberal leadership race.

Declared candidates have to pay the party the first $60,000 instalment in the $100,000 entry fee by Monday.

Steven Del Duca submitted his cheque to the party late Thursday and Michael Coteau will do so on Friday morning.

“I am deeply grateful to all of the individuals who have stepped forward to support my campaign financially,” said Del Duca, a former cabinet minister.

“There is growing momentum to rebuild the Ontario Liberal Party in order to ensure that Doug Ford’s first term is also his last,” he said of the Progressive Conservative premier whose party trounced the Grits in the 2018 election, ending almost 15 years of Liberal rule.

Coteau, the MPP for Don Valley East and also a former cabinet minister, said he is encouraged by the grassroots support.

“We’ve had over 300 donors and around 80 per cent of them are under $100,” he said, adding he is especially touched when people he knows are on tight budgets contribute.

“I’m not (Transportation Minister) Caroline Mulroney or Doug Ford who can raise $500,000 overnight. I know there are people donating (to the campaign) and it’s tough for them because they don’t have a lot of extra money.”

Former Liberal candidate Alvin Tedjo’s campaign said he would be handing over his $60,000 to the party on Monday.

In a statement, the campaign for MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough-Guildwood) said “we are on track to make the required payment and our campaign is working with the OLP to ensure that all the requirements are met for both the party and Election Ontario.”

While the declared candidates have to pay their first fees to the party by Monday, any other potential leadership hopefuls have until 5 p.m. on Nov. 25 to enter the contest.

The Liberals, currently led on an interim basis by MPP John Fraser (Ottawa South), will elect a new leader at a March 7 delegated convention at Mississauga’s International Centre.

It costs $100,000 to enter the contest: a $75,000 registration fee and a $25,000 “conditionally refundable” deposit.

In the 124-member legislature, the Tories have 73 seats including Speaker Ted Arnott, who does not caucus with the government. Andrea Horwath’s New Democrats have 40, the Liberals have six, there are three former PC MPPs sitting as Independents, Green Leader Mike Schreiner, and one vacancy with the recent resignation of Liberal Nathalie Des Rosiers.

The next Ontario election will be held in June 2022.