3 top BC Liberal candidates raise $1.6M

The top three contenders of the leadership of the BC Liberal party have raised about $1.6 million in total for their campaigns.

George Abbott, Christy Clark and Kevin Falcon released their donation totals Tuesday, a week after rival Mike De Jong revealed his donations and challenged the other candidates to do the same.

Falcon raised the most, at $708,000, with his biggest contribution coming from Keg Restaurants at $40,000.

Clark says her total is $519,000, with the largest contributor being John Redekop Construction, which donated $30,000.

Abbott says he raised almost $428,000, with his biggest backer, Hoban Equipment, kicking in $20,000.

Liberal party members will vote for a new leader to replace Premier Gordon Campbell this Saturday.

• 

  British Columbia Liberal leadership candidates Christy Clark, from left, George Abbott and Kevin Falcon look on during a debate at the BC Liberal Party Convention in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday February 12, 2011. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)