NDP says it has paid off its 2021 campaign debt

The federal NDP says it has paid off its debt from the last general election and is no longer in the red.

At its national convention in Hamilton, Ont. in October, party officials told members it expects the NDP to be debt-free by 2024.

The NDP said it had less than $2 million outstanding on its $22 million debt back then.

Lucy Watson, the party's new national director, told CBC News the NDP has seen encouraging fundraising numbers in 2023 and in the first few months of 2024.

"We're in a very stable financial position and what that means is we're looking at financial growth as opposed to managing debt," she said.

Watson said the party's "election readiness" is falling into place as its 25-member caucus works to get the most out of its confidence-and-supply deal with the governing Liberals.

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The average donation to the NDP, Watson said, is under $100 — considerably lower than the average for the other parties. But the NDP still ended 2023 with its best fundraising quarter in years.

The Writ.ca reported that the NDP raised $2.7 million in the last quarter of 2023, their best quarter outside of an election year since 2015, when they formed the Official Opposition. The New Democrats raised $6.9 million for the entire year, up from $6.3 million in 2022.

Many of the party's fundraising emails are framing the next election as battle between New Democrats and Conservatives for the working class vote.

"I think Canadians also see that we are the party that is looking out for hardworking Canadians. We are the party ... looking to create better conditions for Canadians," Watson said. "And it's not (Pierre) Poilievre and the Conservatives who will make those important changes."

Watson said that while the party is back in the black, it will continue to withhold Elections Canada campaign rebates from riding organizations. She said party headquarters does a lot for electoral districts through leader tours, promotional materials, tech support and national ad buys.