July 4, 2008

Green Brand Power

The Green Party's Annual Financial Report for 2007 is dated June 27, 2008. The report, which shows contributions of $105,221, was submitted to Elections BC two months after the filing deadline. Section 207 of the Elections Act requires political parties to submit annual financial reports to Elections BC by March 31 with respect to the previous calendar year. The Green Party's Annual Financial Report for 2006 is dated July 3, 2007; so while late, it looks like the Greens filed a few days earlier this year. In 2006 they reported $131,673 in income. The drop of $26,452 in income between 2006 and 2007 wouldn't be a big deal for a major party, but it was a loss of 20% of their income for the Greens.

To put the fundraising of the Greens in perspective, in 2007 the NDP raised $3.1 million and the BC Liberals raised $5.9 million.

Political parties usually receive more donations during election years. The Greens reported income of $185,188 for 2005, but on January 30, 2008, they amended their 2005 return reducing cash income to $158,552 and increasing contributions of goods and services to $26,636.

The Green Party appears to have a brand name that keeps it afloat even though it lacks organization, financing, or the ability to satisfy the Elections Act.

The Ipsos-Reid's poll conducted between June 5 and June 10, 2008 indicated that the Green Party has 16% support, unchanged from the previous poll. One wonders how the party would do without that magical name.