Six groups raised about three-quarters of the $2.05 million reported by Alberta's referendum campaigns

Top reported fundraisers

1. 1 Let Alberta Decide: $581,780
2. 2 Alberta's Voice: $327,785
3. 3 Forever-Canadian Citizens Initiative Society: $221,869
4. 4 Vote to Stay: $173,191
5. 5 Pathway to Independence: $134,994

Twenty-eight registered third-party advertisers reported $2.05 million ahead of the Oct 19 vote, with final returns due in April.

Forever Canadian, led by Thomas Lukaszuk, reported no referendum contributions for months, then signed a Sept 29 compliance agreement with the election commissioner. It must now separate referendum donations from other money and report event costs.

"The United Conservative Party is not an independence party."

— Premier Danielle Smith

And us?

The full cost of running the vote is not yet known. A former chief electoral officer put it as high as $130 million, about 3.5 times the $37-million 2023 provincial election.