Thread by @JeffRybak

These are numbers from @QueensParkToday. PCs raised $4.5m in 2019, Liberals $1.5m, NDP $1.3m, Greens $450k. Looks like Liberals are doing well. But these numbers aren't the whole story. The Ontario Liberal Party is for sale, and we need to know who's buying. #olpldr #onpoli 1/12

Averaging $384/per, PCs had around 11,700 individual donors. Averaging $200/per, Liberals had 7,500 donors. Averaging $45/per, NPD had 28,900 donors. Averaging $67/per, the Greens had 6,700 donors. By that metric, Liberals aren't doing nearly as well as it seems. 2/12

I often hear from people who support the Ontario Liberal Party but are sick of constant appeals for money. I get it, but I'm torn. Political parties need money and they'll get it from somewhere. If it isn't coming from ordinary members, where do you think it's coming from? 3/12

In America both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party are funded by billionaires, and ordinary members of each hope that the ultra-rich will somehow reflect their concerns. This is incredibly unrealistic. America has two parties both for the rich. And no health care. 4/12

In Canada we at least try to do better, because we know that money distorts politics. We have individual donation limits and no corporate donors. Every party is for sale, but we hope that the parties will be "owned" by rank-and-file members, and not captured by the rich. 5/12

The Ontario Liberal Party, in particular, is torn between two identities. Are we a pro-business party, catering to essentially the same interests as the PCs, but less mean and socially regressive about it? Or are we practical progressives on the center-left? 6/12

When I look at the numbers above, I'm worried. They tell me that the Ontario Liberal Party isn't being funded by our rank-and-file. We're beholden to our biggest donors. Realistically, it's probably 500 people donating $1,600 each, and 7000 donating an average of $100 each. 7/12

When push comes to shove, who do you think has real control over the party, the large number of members or the small number of big donors? As long as those two groups remain truly different groups, we will never be a party of the people. We'll be owned by a small subset. 8/12

Yes, I'm as frustrated as anyone by constant fundraising. But real, individual people need to support the Liberal Party. Or business interests will simply buy it. They are already trying. In our leadership race, there's one candidate I cannot support for this exact reason. 9/12

Liberals aren't alone with this problem. The NDP is traditionally beholden to unions. It happens to everyone. But we need to be vigilant. And I would urge all members of ALL parties to support them. Because our politics can only be better as a result. 10/12

If America has two parties of the rich, let's keep our parties in the hands of real, individual people. We may disagree, and have different values, but I'll take real people over institutions (yes, even unions) and the ultra-rich any day. 11/12

As for the Ontario Liberal Party, if you believe as I do that we must be a practical progressive party of the center-left, then next time they ask, try to find a few dollars. It takes a lot more small donors to replace one big donor, but we'll be a far better party for it. 12/12