Alberta increases citizen initiative petition fee from $500 to $25,000

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government is increasing how much it costs to apply for a citizen-initiated referendum by 5,000 per cent, saying it's about making sure applicants are serious.

It's the latest in a series of rule changes that one petitioner — country singer Corb Lund — characterizes as exhausting.

A cabinet order released late Wednesday afternoon upped the fee to $25,000 from $500.

Heather Jenkins, press secretary to Justice Minister Mickey Amery, says the cost will be refundable if the applicant meets the required threshold of signatures and completes reporting requirements.

"Citizen initiative petitions are costly," Jenkins said Thursday in a statement.

"That is why a higher application fee was chosen, to discourage frivolous applications and protect Alberta taxpayers."

The move comes despite previous efforts by Smith's United Conservative government to make it easier for citizens to apply for a policy initiative or a constitutional referendum, including efforts to put Alberta separation on the ballot.

Lund may not have to pay the higher fee.

Elections Alberta confirmed Thursday his prior application to launch a referendum to stop new coal mining in Alberta's Rockies will have a grace period.

The new fee would be waived if Lund files his paperwork by Jan. 11.

Lund, in an interview, said it's disturbing to see Smith's government make sudden rule changes for what he views as "random, self-serving reasons."

"The chaos and confusion and exhaustion is very similar to the same confusion, chaos and exhaustion that we've seen from the government on how they've been handling the coal situation for the last six years," Lund said.

"It just keeps changing."

He said no matter what else might shift, he won't be deterred from completing a process that's already been cancelled by recent election law changes, forcing him to start again.