Elections Alberta reveals its estimated referendum costs

Elections Alberta estimates the October referendum cost more than 84 million dollars. It comes as the elections oversight body is asking the province for more funding as it prepares for a general election. The chief electoral officer Gordon McClure delivered the numbers in a presentation at the Alberta legislature. His team says that $84 million comes from $34 million that were budgeted before the event and $49 million in supplemental costs to operate the referendum. They say more than half of that $49 million is to pay for ballot counters. Elections Alberta has been granted nearly $60 million more in additional funding For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the agency says it needs more money to help with staff retention and planning for next year's general election. We have had our foot on the gas for a long time. 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. Elections Alberta says recall petitions and the recent report on electoral boundaries have eaten up some of its budget. The agency also says some referendum workers still need to be paid, meaning the total cost of running the project could still go higher. Emma Zhang, CBC News, Edmonton.