Alberta referendum website cost government $300,000, documents show

The Alberta government spent $300,000 to build a website promoting its upcoming referendum, according to records obtained through an access to information request.

The site, albertareferendum2026.ca, went live on April 23 after Premier Danielle Smith announced nine referendum questions in February. A tenth question, regarding potential separation from Canada, was added in May. Creative Currency, a Toronto-based agency with an Edmonton office, was awarded the contract.

The website includes videos addressing all ten questions being put to a vote on October 19, along with frequently asked questions and selected media coverage. Its landing page uses a phrase frequently employed by Smith: "stand for a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada."

Postmedia obtained 124 pages of documents through the access request. Most records are heavily redacted and include emails between government staff and Creative Currency regarding site content. The executive council's expense reports show payment of $309,300 before the end of the fiscal year ending March 31, exceeding the budgeted $300,000. Translation services into 14 languages cost approximately $1,200 from a separate agency.

Government records indicate that "desirable provisions" and "service delivery approach" each accounted for 40 per cent of the contractor-selection scoring, with pricing accounting for 20 per cent. The website's three stated objectives are building public awareness of the immigration and constitutional issues covered in the referendum questions and driving voter participation.

In a statement, the premier's office said more than 40,000 Albertans have visited the website and more than 10,000 have watched the videos. "The contract was awarded through a competitive procurement process, with the vendor chosen demonstrating the strongest overall fit and best value for the work," the office said.

Albertans will vote on ten questions October 19. Most prominently, one asks if the province should take steps toward holding a binding referendum on separation from Canada. Smith has voiced her own support for voting to remain in Canada.