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The amount of money flowing to Alberta political parties has been cut nearly in half since a ban on corporate and union donations was brought in by the NDP government last year.

Financial documents submitted to Elections Alberta show that in the final six months of 2015 — following the June 15 implementation of the provincial ban on union and corporate contributions — the five parties in the legislature took in $1.8 million.

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In comparison, the parties in the same period in 2014 raked in nearly $3.5 million when corporate and union cash was available.

The biggest hit was felt by the Progressive Conservatives, who raised $1.8 million in the last half of 2014 when they were in office, compared to $237,530 in the final two quarters of 2015 after being relegated to third place in the spring election.

Trevor Harrison of the Parkland Institute said the elimination of corporate and union donations in Alberta was long overdue.