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OTTAWA — Rapidly changing how it communicates with Canadians, the federal government is on pace to spend more on Facebook ads in the Liberals’ first year in office than it did between 2006 and 2014 combined.

The Liberal government spent at least $3.8 million on Facebook ads between November 2015 and June 2016 targeting Canadians and foreigners of various age groups and demographics, and is on pace to spend well over $6 million during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s first year in office, according to documents tabled in the House of Commons.

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The data from dozens of departments, agencies and Crown Corporations was tabled in response to a question from Conservative MP Martin Shields.

By comparison, the federal government spent $5.8 million on Facebook ads between April 2006 and early June 2014, according to a federal government response to a similar question two years ago.

As well, the spending on Facebook ads during the Liberal tenure doesn’t include that from CBC/Radio-Canada, which was one of the biggest spenders detailed in the last response. The government declined to release the information this time around, saying it’s “competitive information.”