In Canadian terms, 1500-a-plate fundraiser boils down to "Laurier Club" meeting. After tax credits, the 1500-dollar annual maximum becomes, if my memory serves me right, something like 700 or so. Also, if you belong to a Laurier Club, you can attend multiple meetings, including one in Ottawa.

 Seriously, I attended more than one "1500-a-plate" fundraiser when I was a Laurier club member, and there's not much to write home about. Even more importantly, the "1500-a-plate", or annual maximum donation, fundraisers grew in importance after Harper reformed party finance system in Canada, so perhaps we should unwind his changes.