In the first months since the United Conservative Party government He returned corporate donations to provincial politics.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s party raised more than $471,000 from injury lawyers, car dealerships and other businesses, representing more than a quarter of all UCP donations in the latest period.
Those corporate contributions add up to more than the $437,000 fundraising gap between the United Conservatives ($1.63 million) and the NDP ($1.19 million) in the third quarter of this year, according to newly published figures of Alberta Elections.
The Smith government’s legislation brought back corporate and union contributions starting in July after a ban on that practice, which the previous NDP government had enacted in 2015.
The UCP has taken advantage of this new rule much more than its main opposition. Between July and September, the New Democrats raised $7,100 from six corporations – and nothing from unions – compared to nearly half a million dollars from 244 corporations that wrote checks to the UCP, according to a CBC News analysis of financial returns.
UCP’s corporate donors range from auto dealers who donate the annual maximum of $5,000, to farms and ranches, real estate developers and construction companies, to some smaller donations from energy companies such as Enbridge and Cenovus.
Lawyers shell out cash
Many lawyers donated to the ruling party, often through personal corporations they created as regulated professionals.
That includes more than 20 personal injury attorneys (plus one law firm) whose corporate contributions to UCP totaled $78,750.
This comes as injury lawyers continue to lobby against the government’s planned car insurance reforms, which will largely end lawsuits over car accidents that cause injuries.
The province’s own report predicted that moving to “No-fault” insurance by 2027 it would lead to the loss of more than 650 jobs in the legal sector, and lawyers have not been shy about expressing their opposition to the change.
“Unfortunately, cash access was the only way for lawyers to engage directly with the government on this issue and defend injured Albertans,” lawyer Karamveer Lalh told CBC News in a text message. His professional corporation gave the UCP $3,750.
“If we felt like we were being consulted in a meaningful way, we wouldn’t see members of our bar giving donations to a party that’s trying to put the hundreds of Albertans we employ out of work.”
Other injury attorneys didn’t see it that way.
“No, lawyers don’t buy the party, [if] That’s what you’re trying to imply,” said Norm Assiff, whose professional corporation donated $3,750 last quarter. His Assiff law firm added another $3,750, and four other of his attorneys donated the same amount.
“We are often supporters of the party we don’t want to adopt NDP policies, as is the case in BC and Saskatchewan on insurance, which has been a disaster,” Assiff added in an email.
Calgary injury lawyer Jackie Halpern, another contributor of that amount, noted that she has long been a supporter of Alberta’s conservative parties “and had never considered that she was buying influence,” she told CBC News.
“The party I support is above that. And so am I.”
A spokesman for Finance Minister Nate Horner said the government had consulted widely on the insurance reforms, including with trial lawyers.
“Political donations do not influence government policy,” Marisa Breeze said in an email. “Decisions about Alberta’s auto insurance system are based solely on evidence, expert analysis and what is best for Albertans.”
The business of politics
Ten of the companies that donated to the UCP in the last period are registered simply as numbered companies, such as 2387073 Alberta Ltd. of Sturgeon County. These companies donated a total of $21,625.
The NDP opposed the UCP’s decision to allow companies and unions to make donations, particularly due to the opacity of numbered companies.
“This act is weakening our democracy,” said NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir. said in April. “This is putting dark money back into our politics.”
While the previous NDP government banned corporate and union donations to parties and candidates in 2015, those groups have still been legally allowed to financially support third-party groups advertising or campaigning for their own causes.
Justice Minister Mickey Amery told the legislature in May that again allowing corporate donations to parties would “allow more voices to be heard while ensuring accountability” because all types of donors would be revealed.
Donor lists released by Elections Alberta do not clarify whether a donor is a corporation, union or individual. CBC News reviewed more than 8,000 lines of taxpayer names from each party to identify the companies.
In all, corporate donations helped the UCP widen its fundraising lead over Naheed Nenshi’s NDP. Smith’s party has raised $6.4 million in 2025 as of the end of September, compared to $3.8 million for Nenshi’s party.
“Since Danielle Smith was elected leader [in 2022]we have outperformed the NDP in 10 of the last 12 quarters, including the last nine in a row,” UCP spokesperson David Prisco told CBC News.
“Albertans support the UCP because they know who is fighting for jobs and a strong economy.”
He declined to answer questions about the party’s approach to corporate donations.
NDP CEO Heather Wilson also declined to discuss fundraising strategy, but said her party accepts money from any individual, business or union that supports its mission.
“While Danielle Smith has put a lot of money back into politics, our movement continues to grow because it is powered by everyday Albertans.”
Corporate and union donations are prohibited in federal politics and in most provinces; Alberta has joined Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador as the only ones that allow it.
However, those other two provinces do not impose maximum limits on contributions, while no Alberta business or individual can donate more than $5,000 a year.
The Smith government also re-legalized corporate and union donations in municipal politics, ahead of last month’s Alberta-wide civic elections.
