Senior political staff in the Harper government say they are "not impressed" with a request from the Prime Minister's Office to donate $1,000 to the Conservative party, according to a report.
The request, which is not an order, has sparked resentment among some of the supporters of the Prime Minister's Office, The Globe and Mail reported in Wednesday's edition.
One senior official, who agreed to make the donations, told The Globe that "The kids are not happy.''
The unnamed official added, "People really are not impressed.''
While the donations are not an order, the official told the newspaper that many government workers are concerned they may lose their jobs if they don't fork over.
The official told The Globe that three or four executives in each minister's office are targeted for the contributions. These executives include senior political staff such as chiefs of staff, communications directors, senior policy advisers and directors of parliamentary affairs.
According to the newspaper, the staffers who are being approached tend to make yearly incomes in the range of $100,000 or more. For example, chiefs of staff earn between $124,100 and $159,500.
Another source told the newspaper the subject was first broached by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff, Ian Brodie, a little over a month ago.
Brodie raised the subject again at a meeting of cabinet ministers' chiefs of staff about a week or two ago.
The request was then passed on to senior officials from the chiefs of staff.
The Globe reported that at least four people have reported such requests, although some people in cabinet offices had not been approached.
But Harper spokeswoman Sandra Buckler dismissed suggestions the PMO has asked for contributions in any form.
"Not true. Categorically deny,'' she told The Globe.
Buckler said it is up to individuals to decide whether they want to make donations.
"If people were going to donate to the party, that would be their decision and their decision only," she said "If people elect to make a charitable donation, then it's up to them."
