Mark Carney has emerged as the clear frontrunner in fundraising for the Liberal Party of Canada leadership race, significantly outpacing his rivals, according to Elections Canada data released today.
Carney has raised an impressive $1.9 million since the race began, putting him well ahead of contenders Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould, Frank Baylis, and Ruby Dhalla. The report shows that Freeland raised just over $226,000, placing her behind Gould and Baylis but ahead of Dhalla.
However, Freeland’s campaign is disputing the reported numbers, claiming they do not reflect the full scope of her fundraising efforts. Campaign spokesperson Katherine Cuplinskas stated that more than $600,000 has actually been raised, but some direct contributions to the Liberal Party were not yet remitted to the campaign before the financial reporting deadline.
The next round of fundraising data is expected just days before the March 9 leadership vote, where Carney’s financial advantage may translate into a stronger ground game and voter outreach. With the race heating up, all eyes are on the final stretch of the contest to determine who will lead the party into the next federal election.