Q2 cash: Tories knock out rivals, NDP and Grits jockey for runner-up

And Shamji shade

ABOVE THE FOLD

FUNDRAISING WATCH — The PCs money-making machine continues to steamroll political rivals.

While the ruling party’s cash arsenal didn’t pull in as much as in the first quarter of 2023 — which was padded by Premier DOUG FORD’s big Leader’s Dinner — Q2 still saw them trounce the Opposition. All main parties made an end-of-quarter appeal to supporters (Ford will even hit the links with folks who cough up $1,000 tomorrow).

Here’s how it’s all shaking out — but first, a caveat: Elections Ontario’s disclosures are posted in real time — but typically there’s a two-week lag, which means some receipts are likely still incoming, and the final tally could change once they’re audited. Still, we’ve got a good sense of the parties’ fiscal standings midway through the year.

By the numbers:

The PCs pulled in about $871,359 between April 1 and June 30. So far this year, they’ve brought in a whopping $5,467,279 — with an average donation of $1,309 from 4,177 donors.

(Don’t forget: 2023’s c…