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NDP candidate Andrew Thomson’s repeated television appearances defending his party’s fiscal bona fides has some speculating that he would be named finance minister, should the New Democrats win power in October.

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Thomson served that role in Saskatchewan premier Lorne Calvert’s NDP government until 2007.

But during his time out of politics, when he worked for Cisco Systems, Thomson was more liberal with his political support.

Elections Canada’s database shows he gave a total of $981 to the Toronto Centre Federal Liberal Association, and another $712 to the federal Liberal Party, between 2008 and 2010. Thomson says the donations reflected his purchase of tickets attend fundraiser events in aide of then-Toronto Centre MP Bob Rae.

“When I was getting more active in the business community, it was just one of those things you do,” he said.

Later, in 2012, Thomson gave to the NDP via donations to the leadership campaigns of Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar ($200) and the eventual winner, Thomas Mulcair ($1,000). He gave $500 directly to the party in 2014.