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WATCH ABOVE: Ashif Mawji warns charitable contributions could suffer from increased corporate tax

EDMONTON – Albertans have taken to Twitter in droves to support the Stollery Children’s Hospital after a controversial comment was made by a local business leader on Friday.

“If there is no bottom line … there’s no money that goes to charities,” said Ashif Mawji, CEO of NPO Zero.

“We all make donations to charities. There is no more excellence at the Stollery, as an example, or great programs at the university. There’s all those things that business contribute to. So it’s an important ingredient and we can’t forget that.”

The comment was made during a meeting between five Edmonton business leaders, all of whom have donated to the PC Party in the past five years. The group warned Albertans of the effect on Alberta’s economy if the PCs aren’t re-elected as government and slammed the NDP’s proposal to increase the province’s corporate tax rate if elected.

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In an interview with Global News Saturday morning, NDP Leader Rachel Notley said she doesn’t believe that most Alberta voters “are going to take terribly kindly to being threatened by people around how they should vote and where they should put their political choices.”

“I don’t know that that was a terribly helpful message to deliver to the majority of Alberta voters that one would sort of leverage the health of kids for votes for a certain party.”

READ MORE: Edmonton business leaders support PC government; NDP dismiss them as ‘PC donors’

Mawji’s comment caused an uproar on social media Friday night and Saturday, with people venting their frustration using the hashtag #PCAAHostageCrisis.

The comment also led to an outpouring of support for the Stollery, with several people using the hashtag #ABSupportsStollery to show pictures of their donation amounts.

We are extremely grateful for every donation in support of this amazing hospital. Thank you Alberta! #ABSupportsStollery — Stollery Kids (@StolleryKids) May 2, 2015

Huh. I guess the idea of an NDP government makes me want to give even more to charities #ABsupportsStollery #abvote pic.twitter.com/x3NpmC15zL — Rene Martin (@Renmartin13) May 2, 2015

Thanks for bringing attention to this @mikesbloggity! I set up a monthly donation to calm my rage #absupportsstollery pic.twitter.com/fQG7WiHRbj — Keltie B (@keltie_) May 2, 2015

Proud to see Albertans spreading #ABSupportsStollery! Don’t stop there. Get out and VOTE! Make a change. #abvote — Tiana Van Dyk (@tianavandyk) May 2, 2015

I can’t give much but I’ll give what I can to the Stollery if the gov’t changes. They saved my niece’s life. #abvote #ABsupportsStollery — Jared Phillips (@jaredphi) May 2, 2015