Government
$4,000,000
$4 million ad campaign
On October 19, vote with your eyes open
$130 Million to Ask the Questions. $4 Million to Tell You the Answers.
A referendum is supposed to measure public opinion. Albertans are being asked to pay for the vote, then pay again for a government campaign selling the answers it wants.
The spending gap
Public money versus grassroots money.
The government has a $4 million taxpayer funded ad campaign. Alberta's Voice has grassroots contributions from supporters who want another message in front of voters.
Alberta's Voice
$178,535
$178,510.68 in grassroots contributions as of Sept. 10
The government's ad campaign alone is more than 22 times Alberta's Voice's reported contributions.
The reported $300,000 government referendum website is separate from the ad campaign shown above.
The priorities question
What else could $130 million do?
Every dollar spent on this referendum is a dollar not available for other priorities.
Healthcare. Schools. Housing. Infrastructure.
Albertans are being asked to spend roughly $130 million on a referendum, then millions more on a government campaign trying to shape the result.
And $4 million may not be the final number. The announced campaign can be expanded. The full cost may not be clear until public accounts and budget estimates are released.
What that means
Their message, on your dime. Our message, backed by supporters.
- $4 million ad campaign
- TV, radio, digital, and billboards
- Paid for with public money
- $178,510.68 in reported contributions
- Volunteers, signs, posts, and conversations
- Donor-funded organizing
What the Premier has said
They are not just asking. They are campaigning.
Premier Danielle Smith has been explicit about what the government wants from the referendum.
"We're going to be advocating for these positions."
"Actively persuading the public" toward the "direction we want to go."
"I want to get a mandate from Albertans."
If this is about listening to Albertans, why spend millions telling Albertans what to think?
The choice
They can outspend us. They do not get to outvote us.
We do not have $4 million in public money. We have volunteers, grassroots support, and Albertans ready to vote No to Questions 1-9.
Receipts
Source notes.
Reporting on the projected $130 million referendum cost
Canadian Press reporting on the $4 million campaign
Elections Alberta referendum questions and voting details
CityNews Calgary reporting on Smith advocating for Questions 1-9
Global News reporting on Smith seeking a referendum mandate
Reporting on the $300,000 government referendum website