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OTTAWA — The Harper government spent $21 million on major advertising campaigns under its Economic Action Plan brand in 2011-12.

The latest annual report on federal ad spending shows Ottawa shelled out $78.5 million that year telling Canadians about everything from the switch to digital TV and the War of 1812, to elder abuse and anti-drug messaging.

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In 2005-06, Ottawa spent $41.3 million on advertising, a number the Conservatives have almost doubled in every year since taking office in January 2006.

Campaigns under the Economic Action Plan logo, with its blue and green upward arrows, dominate the spending.

The Economic Action Plan was coined for the 2009 stimulus budget during a global recession — but it has been maintained by the Conservatives as an all-purpose brand for feel-good government measures.

Despite government polling that suggests diminishing returns, it continues to be heavily promoted with “action plan” ads currently being aired by the Canada Revenue Agency, Natural Resources Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.