In the run-up to October’s election, the Tories and Liberals are touting their respective fundraising prowess, as both parties claim to have attracted record-breaking numbers of donations over the past three months.

The Conservatives on Tuesday announced they had raised $8.5 million in the second quarter of 2019, or April to June. That total, which the party claims was the largest ever second quarter haul in Canadian political fundraising, would push the Conservatives’ collective total for 2019 to $16.5 million.

According to the Tories, this is the largest fundraising total for any party ever over the first six months of a year, beating their own record from 2011 by some $300,000. In the 2011 federal election, the Conservatives won a majority of seats.

“We’re now less than 90 days until Election Day, and these fundraising results show that momentum is firmly on our side,” Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said in a statement.

“With Canadians clearly showing their support for our party, we’re going to continue to outline our plan that helps all Canadians get ahead.”

A registered party is required to submit to Elections Canada quarterly fundraising reports if its candidates for the most recent general election received at least two per cent of the total valid votes cast in all electoral districts across Canada, or at least 5 per cent of the valid votes cast in the electoral districts in which it endorsed a candidate.

The results for this past quarter should be posted on the Elections Canada website shortly, though as of publication, only the Green Party of Canada’s quarterly report was available. Parties are also required to submit annual reports on their finances and fundraising.

READ MORE: Liberals posted record fundraising numbers to end 2018, but trailed Conservatives by millions

The Liberals also proudly touted their fundraising numbers on Tuesday, bragging that the party had its “best-ever second quarter for grassroots fundraising results” this year. According to the Liberals, over 41,500 donors gave $5,033,998 to the party during the past three months.

“Liberals are starting this important election campaign with new records for grassroots fundraising and incredible hope and hard work by volunteers in communities across Canada,” Liberal Party president Suzanne Cowan said in a statement.

The party says the median donation was $15 and 95 per cent of all donations were under $200. On the other end, the Conservatives say they had 53,294 donors in the second quarter.

The Liberals, though, have taken to noting that the Tories vastly outspend them in pursuit of donor dollars. Citing annual reports submitted to Elections Canada, the Liberals claim the Tories posted more than $22.5 million in fundraising expenses between 2016-18, compared to roughly $9.3 million on the part of the Liberals. During this span, the Liberal Party phased out membership fees.

The NDP told iPolitics that its second quarter fundraising numbers were “better than projected,” and demonstrate that the party continues to attract more donations.

Over that span, the party says it drew $1.43 million from donors, up from the $1.2 million it collected in the first quarter, bringing the annual total to $2.63 million. The NDP also says it has already increased the number of donors compared to last year by almost 2,500 people.

“[The second quarter of 2019] is one of the best second quarters we’ve had in the last 10 years. Our numbers mark an increase compared to last year and compared to 2017, and they’re better than this year’s first quarter,” the party noted in a prepared statement.

“Across every fundraising method we track — online, on the phone, through the mail — all are tracking up, quarter after quarter.”

The NDP also claims that its fundraising is “in line” with what it drew when serving as the official opposition from 2012-2014, while its phone program and digital campaigns “continue to reach new quarterly benchmarks.”

According to the Green Party’s quarterly filing on the Elections Canada website, the party raised just under $1.48 million from donors in the second quarter of 2019.

*This story has been changed to clarify when registered parties must submit fundraising reports to Elections Canada.