Liberals Can't Balance the Books

Not only are the federal Liberals struggling with fundraising, many prominent Liberal MPs are mired in debt.

Michael Ignatieff still owes more than $777,000 in debts on his unsuccessful bid last year for the Liberal leadership....

... In fact, Mr. Ignatieff's campaign still owes about a third of its costs, including $529,500 in outstanding loans and $247,238 in unpaid bills....

...Under elections laws, Mr. Ignatieff has another year to raise the money to pay off the debts, after which they would be deemed illegal contributions. Candidates must get the money from eligible donors, and are not allowed to pay the debts off themselves because of limits on donations by individuals...

...Toronto-area MP Maurizio Bevilacqua, who became the first of the 11 official candidates to withdraw from the race four months before the convention, still owes $296,000 in loans and unpaid bills.