Kesiah Papasin of Canada waves a Canadian national flag as she poses in a costume similar to those used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police during the 54th Miss International Beauty Pageant in Tokyo November 11, 2014. Women from 74 countries took part in
Kesiah Papasin of Canada waves a Canadian national flag as she poses in a costume similar to those used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police during the 54th Miss International Beauty Pageant in Tokyo November 11, 2014. Women from 74 countries took part in the annual beauty contest. REUTERS/Thomas Peter REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Costs of advertising concerning Canada's 150th birthday in 2017 has been pegged to reach a whopping million, even though federal authorities have yet to concretise plans of how exactly the celebrations will be mounted.

The figure came about because around million will be spent about the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences which authorities said are connected to the anniversary, as well as some million to mark the bicentennial of the War of 1812. The Conservatives want the latter incorporated under the Canada 150 banner.

Marisa Monnin, a spokeswoman for Heritage Minister Shelley Glover, said the War of 1812 ad campaign will be the first of a series along the road to 2017. "Through these advertising campaigns, the government of Canada will encourage Canadians to learn more about their history, commemorate events, celebrate accomplishments and honour people that helped shape what Canada is today," she told the Canadian Press.

But Stephane Dion, a Liberal heritage critic, blasted the government because while the latter had started to run ad campaigns, no actual event line-up has been unveiled to mark the milestone. "It's a manipulative government and they blur the line between governmental information and partisan ads," he said. "Some of the Fathers of Confederation ads are well done, but since there is no plan behind that, you see that what they want to be is to be seen by Canadians are doing something."

The plans, Monnin defended, are already being worked out. But she didn't provide details.

In October 2013, a report by CBC News said the country's 150th birthday will be highlighted by a throne speech, which in turn will focus on the two dozen milestones of the celebrations all through 2017. A list released to The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act revealed there will be efforts to mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, the 150th anniversary of the Fenian Raids, the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War, the 200th anniversary of the births of Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir George-Etienne Cartier, the 175th of Sir Wilfrid Laurier's entry into the world, the 50th anniversary of the Canada Games, the 125th of the Stanley Cup and the 100th of both the National Hockey League and a Canadian expedition to the Arctic.