The richest 10 per cent of federal candidates now get more donations than all others combined

And other findings from the IJF’s political donations data

13 Mar 2023 • 5 min read

Copied to clipboard!

Independent candidate Jody Wilson-Raybould raised over $220,000 in the 2019 federal election, while the average candidate raised no more than $4,000. The disparity between the top and bottom-earning candidates has only grown since. (Jimmy Jeong/The Canadian Press)

Roberto Rocha

Roberto is an award-winning journalist who specializes in computational methods for investigations. Before joining the IJF, he was a data journalist at CBC News and the Montreal Gazette.

Dig Deeper

Our databases turn public records into public power. Dig in to find the real story on lobbying, donations, contracts, access to information releases and more.

Minister of Finance François-Philippe Champagne rises during Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Dec. 1.

Politics

Canada's political parties want to be exempt from provincial privacy laws

Advocates warn a measure in the Liberal affordability bill could encourage microtargeting of voters, with little oversight

Carly Penrose•26 Jan 2026

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney smiles on stage at his campaign headquarters after the Liberal Party won the Canadian election in Ottawa, Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Politics

Highest-spending candidates won their local races 70% of the time

And more insights from candidate expense reports from April’s federal election

Carly Penrose•21 Jan 2026

The richest 10 per cent of federal candidates now get more donations than all others combined

Dig Deeper

Related Articles

Canada's political parties want to be exempt from provincial privacy laws

Highest-spending candidates won their local races 70% of the time

More on Politics

Whistleblowing reports skyrocket, and so do reprisals

Sharing ‘a piece of the cake:’ Quebec bans four healthcare staffing companies from provincial contracts until 2030 for alleged integrity lapses

'Democracy is a fraud': Prolife Alberta party head identified as traditionalist Catholic writer, podcaster

Where’s the transparency? A year of unfulfilled promises on freedom of information

The richest 10 per cent of federal candidates now get more donations than all others combined

Democracy needs you.

Dig Deeper

Related Articles

Canada's political parties want to be exempt from provincial privacy laws

Highest-spending candidates won their local races 70% of the time

More on Politics

Whistleblowing reports skyrocket, and so do reprisals

Sharing ‘a piece of the cake:’ Quebec bans four healthcare staffing companies from provincial contracts until 2030 for alleged integrity lapses

'Democracy is a fraud': Prolife Alberta party head identified as traditionalist Catholic writer, podcaster

Where’s the transparency? A year of unfulfilled promises on freedom of information