Liberals are now up to $16.5 billion....and counting.

The Canadian Taxpayer Federation is keeping track of Liberal spending promises.

The start gun for a federal election will go off sometime next week. The Conservative Opposition gave notice Wednesday that it will bring forward a non-confidence motion. This will trigger a mid-winter campaign if approved by a majority in the House of Commons, which is expected.

The governing Liberals are using every trick to improve their electoral fortunes. Their preferred tool? The government’s spending powers. Over the last three weeks, Prime Minster Paul Martin, cabinet ministers and Liberal backbench MPs have made pre-campaign spending commitments totaling $16.5-billion. This is equivalent to $785-million per day.

Tax money is being brazenly used as the Liberal Party’s own private political slush fund. Before Mr. Martin visits the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament next Monday or Tuesday, the spending total will surpass $20-billion.

Will it work? There does seem to be far more skepticism than ever before.