EDMONTON, AB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released analysis today showing political parties took more than $3.7 million through the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

“Political parties should know better than to exploit the pandemic for their own gain,” said Kevin Lacey, Alberta Director with the CTF.  “These dollars were meant to help struggling businesses make it through the pandemic. The political parties that took these subsidies need to make sure every penny is paid back.”

The CEWS was a federal pandemic subsidy meant to help organizations cover a portion of their employees’ wages. 

Provincial political parties received more than $500,000 through the wage subsidy, while federal parties received $3.2 million.

Alberta’s United Conservative Party received $151,445 from the CEWS, plus $11,448 through another federal pandemic subsidy called the Temporary Wage Subsidy. 

Other provincial parties that took the wage subsidy are the B.C. Liberal Party $329,603, Green Party of B.C. $43,302, Manitoba Liberal Party $25,596 and the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador $35,669.

Political parties already receive special taxpayer treatment, such as political contributions tax credits. 

“Many Canadians were worried about their jobs during the pandemic, but I don’t think too many people were laying awake at night worried about a shortage of political attack ads,” said Franco Terrazzano, Federal Director with the CTF. “Parties already receive special taxpayer treatment and it’s important that they pay the wage subsidy back because they should have never taken it in the first place.”

You can find the CTF’s analysis here.