The provincial election will cost Ontario taxpayers as much as 189 million dollars.
Elections Ontario’s Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa revealed the price tag while addressing the media about the agency’s readiness for an early election.
Essensa says an increase in the pay for election workers is one of the factors that has driven up costs.
“We have not increased the rates for the 55,000 people since 2018,” says Essensa.
“Eight, nine months ago, I requested the increases through the Board of Internal Economy. So, we were always going to have a significant impact in that. We’ve also seen, because of inflationary natures, increases, both for the products that we have to purchase and the services that we use with our vendors.”
Essensa says the costs would likely have been about the same had the election taken place in June 2026 when it was scheduled.
Elections Ontario is still in the process of getting staff and returning offices in place.
Essensa says planning started last May, with the expectation of the 2026 election.
Deadlines were later changed to April, then to March and February.
Essensa admits they did not receive much notice of the eventual election call.
“I had not much more notice than a little bit a day or so before (the media) noticed.”
This will be the first winter election since 1883 when voters also went to the polls on February 27th.
Essensa says it does present some challenges, and they are working on contingencies in the event weather plays a factor on election day.
“It really depends on the severity of the weather if it prevents voters from accessing their voting options. There’s a number of factors that we’re building in right now, but it’s really hypothetical for me to say at this point, but there are plans being put in place as we speak.”
Election day is February 27th, however, voters can begin casting ballots at a local election office beginning on January 30th.
Voters can also apply to vote by mail with applications found by clicking here.
Elections Ontario estimates that 10.8 million residents are eligible to vote.
