How is this possible? How can they contribute to his campaign account when he is in surplus?
Here are excerpts from an email from incoming Liberal Party president Alfred Apps:
As you may know, we are doing the annual Leader's Dinner for 1,000 people at the Royal York in 10 days, on April 1. Purdy Crawford, Frank McKenna, Belinda Stronach, David Peterson and Jean Augustine are the Honourary co-chairs. I think the event is going to be sold out.
Those who pay $1,100 per seat are entitled to (a) a premiere table location, (b) admission to the VIP Reception preceding the Dinner and (c) an automatic Laurier Club membership (which includes the ability to attend the upcoming Vancouver convention for free).
Those who pay only $500 per seat are able to attend the dinner only.
Each donor/purchaser can donate up to $2,200, paying up to $1,100 by cheque or credit card to the Liberal Party of Canada and $1,100 to the "Liberal Party of Canada (Michael Ignatieff)". The Ignatieff Campaign account is in surplus and any surplus automatically reverts to LPC under the Elections Act.