Alberta anti-abortion party brings in more than $200K after years of inactivity

An anti-abortion party that in 2020 had just $30 in the bank has raised nearly $217,000 in contributions this year.

According to Elections Alberta, in the first three quarters of 2021 the Pro-Life Alberta Political Association out-fundraised each of the Wildrose Independence Party, the Alberta Party and the Alberta Liberals. 

The amount, still leagues below the millions raised by the United Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party, is a seismic shift for a single-issue political organization that has been largely inactive for years.

Executive director Richard Dur credited the revival to two things: an initial $20 donation out of Red Deer and a growing frustration that anti-abortion views were not being addressed provincially.

"It's our aim then to make the right-to-life issue an issue that is talked about during an election campaign, when other political parties might perhaps rather ignore that issue," he said.

That Bill 207 — a controversial conscience rights bill — died before reaching assembly in a UCP-dominated committee was a motivator, Dur said.

"We would be naive to simply rely on something to happen there."

The party started as a 2017 takeover of the Christian-based right-wing Alberta Social Credit Party, which formed government in the mid-20th century but fell into political irrelevance in following decades.

The Pro-Life version ran only one candidate during the 2019 election — garnering 60 votes in Calgary-Currie — and brought in no contributions between 2018 and 2020.

Its financial statement for last year shows cash holdings of $32.31.

But the first three quarters of 2021 the party brought in $216,814 with around 75 per cent of contributions being $250 or under.

Pro-Life advertises on its website that because it is a political party, contributions up to $200 receive 75 per cent tax credit, far more than the approximate 25 per cent tax credit for a similar donation to a charity.

Charities are also barred from directly or indirectly supporting or opposing political parties or candidates.

Dur said the volunteer-run party does not aim to form government. It is still organizing but is now running radio ads and does not rule out putting forward candidates in the next election.