This Election Is Set To Cost $610 Million & It Could Be Canada's Most Expensive Ever

This Canadian federal election could be the most expensive of all time in Canada, as it's estimated to cost an eye-watering $610 million.

In a statement shared with Narcity, Elections Canada confirmed the price estimate for 2021, noting that the 2019 federal election cost around $502 million in total.

As this snap election is just 36 days long — the shortest possible election period under federal law — it works out at around $16.9 million per day. Per CityNews, this would make it the priciest election Canada has ever seen.

Reasons for the increased costs include COVID-19 safety measures like face coverings, single-use pencils and hand sanitizer, in addition to preparations for the expected flood of mail-in ballots.

Explaining his reasons for calling a snap federal election during a pandemic, Justin Trudeau asked, "Who wouldn't want their chance to help decide where our country goes from here? Canadians need to choose how we finish the fight against COVID-19 and build back better."

Other major party leaders, including Yves-Francois Blanchet and Jagmeet Singh, criticized the timing of the decision to call an election.