Politics · Canada · 3 hrs ago
Alberta separation referendum cost $84-million, Elections Alberta says
Elections Alberta says Alberta’s separation referendum cost $84-million in total.
Officials gave the figure at a legislature committee meeting, saying the vote took place last month.
The 10-question referendum involved more than 22 million ballots, and $26-million is needed to pay staff who counted them.
The total is nearly $50-million above the agency’s annual budget, so Elections Alberta wants the government to cover the shortfall.
The agency also requested $9-million to begin preparing for next year’s general election.
It says it can hold that election on time, even though the government plans to bring new electoral maps into law in the coming weeks.
Elections Alberta says the province’s separation referendum cost $84-million.
The agency told a legislature committee the cost was nearly $50-million more than its annual budget could cover.
Chief electoral officer Gordon McClure said about $26-million was needed to pay staff who counted more than 22 million ballots in the 10-question vote.
Elections Alberta is seeking additional government funding and says staff worked long hours during the referendum.
The agency also requested $9-million to prepare for next year’s general election.
- Who
- Elections Alberta, Alberta’s elections agency.
- What
- The agency said the separation referendum cost $84-million and sought additional funding.
- When
- Officials gave the cost at a legislature committee on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The vote took place last month.
- Where
- Alberta.
- Why
- The cost exceeded the agency’s annual budget by nearly $50-million, according to chief electoral officer Gordon McClure.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Alberta held a 10-question separation referendum.
Elections Alberta officials told a legislature committee the referendum cost $84-million.
- Total referendum cost
- $84-million
- Budget shortfall
- Nearly $50-million
- Ballots counted
- More than 22 million
- Staff costs
- About $26-million
- Funding requested for next election preparations
- $9-million
2 sources
What people are saying
I myself worked a 22-hour shift; that was my longest shift
Everybody here at this table worked probably at least 16 to 20-hour days. But that comes with the territory. We’re not here complaining.
People are tired, and we have some concerns going forward about being able to hire some of the people that have worked for us in the past