More grit money woes

This just gets worse and worse for the grits. From the red star, the understatement of the year.

Liberal funds dwindle after election rebates

Nov 05, 2008 05:35 PM

TIM NAUMETZ
THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA – The Liberal party is coping with yet another financial blow from the October election – the loss of up to $250,000 in election rebates where 36 candidates failed to get 10 per cent of the vote in their ridings.

The number is not just a sign of how far the Liberals sank in voter support, especially in the western provinces. It's also a sobering reminder of the financial fallout from the party's worst-ever election showing.

Because of the drop in voter support, the Liberals will also lose $1.6 million from their government subsidy next year, and just over $1 million from parliamentary funding for House of Commons officer budgets, research and caucus support on Parliament Hill.

But despite other bad news in a recent Elections Canada report that donations continued to decline this year, Liberal MPs put on a brave face Wednesday.