Ottawa: From November 3rd to November 25th, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) tracked 145 pre-election spending announcements totaling $24.5-billion made by Paul Martin's Liberal government. Last week alone - November 21st to November 25th - the federal government's spending binge topped $20-billion, unveiled in ribbon-cutting ceremonies and news wire stories across Canada.

"Announcing $24.5-billion in spending over 23 days works out to more than $1-billion per day or $44-million every hour," observed CTF federal director John Williamson. "With the federal government budgeted to spend $163.7-billion on all programs in fiscal 2005/06, $24.5-billion represents 15 per cent of the entire fiscal year's planned expenditures."

The CTF estimates that half of these announcements represent new spending not included in either the 2005 Budget or the 2005 Economic Update released on November 14th. Further, most of the spending is being announced in swing ridings where the Liberals are vulnerable and where the electoral battles are tight between government members and the opposition parties.

Some of the spending gems include:

• $332,528 for assisting Quebec's blueberry industry.
• $139,000 for fish harvesters skills promotion in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
• $276,000 for the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Ontario.
• $361,666 to put synthetic turf on a soccer field in Longueuil, Quebec.

"Politicians used to throw salt pork at voters to win their support in an election," concluded Williamson. "Today's scheme is simply using tax dollars and the government's spending powers for blatant electioneering. The federal government has embarked on the largest pre-election spending spree in Canadian history."