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- calendar_today November 7, 2026
Referendum Cost Totals Revealed
Elections Alberta has announced that the referendum held on October 19 came with a price tag of just over $84 million. The announcement was made during a multi-party MLA committee meeting, where the agency’s leadership detailed the financial requirements for managing the province-wide vote.
Breakdown of Costs and Funding Request
Gordon McClure, Alberta’s chief electoral officer, presented an overview of the referendum’s expenses, which included salaries and training for staff, rent for voting venues, freight and postage, rental vehicles for ballot transportation, and security measures. According to McClure, staffing costs for the hand-count of 22 million ballots alone were estimated at $21 million—surpassing those incurred during the last federal election.
During the committee session, McClure also requested an additional $49 million, supplementing the $34 million already spent from Elections Alberta’s $51-million 2026-27 budget. The committee approved this request unanimously and without debate.
Supplemental Funding and Future Preparation
In total, Elections Alberta sought $59 million in supplemental funding: $49 million for referendum expenses, $9 million to support preparations for the October 2027 provincial election, and $993,742 to cover 23 more full-time staff positions. McClure assured legislators that the funding request was carefully prepared and would be responsibly managed.
Referendum Details and Workload Impact
The October referendum saw Albertans vote on 10 questions, including the issue of whether Alberta should remain in Canada or begin steps toward a binding referendum on the province’s future within the country. Ultimately, 75 percent of voters supported staying in Canada.
Elections Alberta has faced a heavy workload since January 2025, having managed 37 electoral events—including MLA recall petitions, three citizen initiative petitions, a byelection, and the recent referendum. Steve Kaye, Elections Alberta’s chief administrative officer, described the referendum as “crushing” for staff, with some employees working 16- to 20-hour days. Despite the challenges, Kaye stated, “This is our job and we'll do our job.”
Agency Staffing and Comparisons
Kaye highlighted that Elections Alberta, with just 54 employees, is likely the country’s leanest elections agency. He pointed out that Quebec’s election agency employs 300 full-time staff—a figure that would translate to 224 if adjusted for Alberta’s population size.
Upcoming Election Planning and Boundary Concerns
Last week, McClure sent a letter to every Member of the Legislative Assembly, requesting that the 2027 provincial election be held under the current electoral boundaries or delayed until new boundaries, expected to be approved within the legislative fall session, could be implemented. This request was rejected by Justice Minister Mickey Amery.
Source: cbc.ca.
