Pierre Karl Pladeau puts jersey-selling fundraiser on hold to prioritize Bloc

Parti Qubcois Leader Pierre Karl Pladeau's team has temporarily given up on a plan to sell hand-signed hockey jerseys, at $150 apiece, in order to pay the cost of his leadership campaign.

The offer, found on Pladeau's campaign website, was removed so as not to undermine the Bloc Qubcois' fundraising campaign, according to Annick Blanger, Pladeau's communications director.

Until last week, visitors to Pladeau's website were encouraged to order their own "PKP 2015" hockey jersey, "with Pierre Karl's Pladeau's autograph, for only $150."

The campaign has been pushed back in order to concentrate efforts on the Bloc Qubcois fundraising campaign.- Annick Blanger, PKP'scommunications director

Blanger confirmed that the decision to sell the blue jerseys, which are identical to the ones worn by Pladeau supporters during his leadership campaign, was taken in mid-August.

The initiative was designed to replenish the coffers of Pladeau's campaign organization, which was left with a $132,000 debt when the race wrapped up in May.

As of yet, no sales have been completed, Blanger said. She said the offer will return after the Oct. 19 federal election.

Pladeau is the only one of the six Parti Qubcois leadership candidates who still must gather donations to balance his budget, which far exceeded that of his rivals.

In an interview, Blanger told The Canadian Press the offer was suspended Thursday after it became clear the volunteers for the hockey sweater sales were all mobilized by the Bloc Qubcois campaign that began over a month ago.

"The campaign has been pushed back in order to concentrate efforts on the Bloc Qubcois fundraising campaign," Blanger said.

Sales to restart after election

Blanger confirmed the operation would start up again next month in order to finish up "the fundraising campaign for Mr. Pladeau's leadership race."

The new Parti Qubcois leader spent $405,000 (excluding an amount of $11,575 in unpaid claims) on his campaign, which exceeded the $284,950 he received in donations.

Last week, Quebec'schief electoral officer confirmed the initiative was within the rules since the maximum donation for a leadership race is $500, as opposed to the $100 ceiling for election campaign contributions.

Election office spokesman Denis Dion confirmed that candidates have a one-year period to pay back their debt, and they can request permission to extend the deadline to a maximum of three years.

The financial records of the candidates submitted to the chief electoral officer show that Alexandre Cloutier ran the second-most expensive campaign at $79,890, which was equivalent to the amount he took in.