Separatism referendum cost $84 million, exceeded Elections Alberta’s budget
Elections Alberta said the price tag is nearly $50 million more than its annual budget could pay for and needs the province to cover the rest through additional funding.
Last month's historic separation vote in Alberta came with a hefty price tag of $84 million, according to Elections Alberta officials who testified before a legislature committee on Thursday. Chief electoral officer Gordon McClure revealed that this cost is nearly $50 million more than the agency's annual budget could cover. He emphasized the urgent need for additional government funding to cover the remainder, stating that roughly $26 million is required just to compensate staff who counted over 22 million ballots cast in the 10-question referendum.
The financial strain of the referendum was particularly severe for the election staff, with many working 16-hour shifts or longer. In one case, a staff member developed appendicitis and was unable to seek treatment in time. Beyond the immediate financial concerns, Elections Alberta is also seeking an additional $9 million in funding to prepare for next year's general election.
Despite this financial setback, the agency remains confident it will be able to conduct the upcoming election on time, even as the government plans to implement new electoral maps in the coming weeks.
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