Conservative leadership candidate Kevin O鈥橪eary raised $183,963.51 in a single day, according to his campaign.
The campaign says the funds were raised from 1,911 people after O鈥橪eary put out a call to raise $25,000 before midnight on Jan. 26.
By contrast, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised $2,017,975 from 12,870 contributors during the entirety of his rough six-month Liberal leadership campaign.
鈥淭his shows the clear momentum and motivation of Canadians that want to see Justin Trudeau out of office,鈥� O鈥橪eary said, according to the statement.
鈥淭his morning Justin made changes to campaign financing in the wake of his shameful record of cash for access,鈥� he added. 鈥淚鈥檓 here to put him on notice that Canadians won鈥檛 stand for this anymore.鈥�
Trudeau has been accused of offering access at private dinners and other events in exchange for donations to the Liberal Party of up to $1,500. After criticism of the practice, Trudeau鈥檚 office announced Friday that the Liberals are drafting new rules for fundraisers, including requiring them to be in public spaces and advertised publicly.
O鈥橪eary told CTV鈥檚 Question Period earlier this month that he was frustrated with campaign finance rules and that he should be allowed to pay for the 鈥渨hole thing himself鈥� as long as it鈥檚 transparent.
"I feel bad for the candidates that run around and collected $1,500 at a time," he said. "I'm going to have to do the same thing, but I think it's unfair. Why not let me spend my own money, I don鈥檛 see what鈥檚 wrong with that, as long as it's transparent?鈥� he said.
O鈥橪eary also told Question Period earlier this month that he thinks a company should be allowed to donate a million dollars to a contestant, 鈥渁s long as you鈥檙e disclosing it,鈥� although he wouldn鈥檛 take it because 鈥渋t smacks that you鈥檙e going to have some commitment or obligation.鈥�
O鈥橪eary added that he thought the prime minister was "in trouble鈥� over fundraising dinners because he 鈥渨asn't transparent.鈥�
