The Canadian Conservative party spent $19.4 million fighting the 2008 general election.

The figure is included in documents dated Feb. 17 and released on Elections Canada's website today.

The party's biggest expense, at $10.3 million, was radio and television advertising. Another $328,000 was spent on other advertising and $274,000 on polling.

The party paid $2.5 million to tour leader Stephen Harper around the country.

It also spent $1.8 million on professional services, $866,000 on salaries and wages, $449,000 on its national office and $2.9 million categorized as “other”.

There are 15 registered political parties that are required to submit a report on their election expenses within six months of election day. The deadline is April 14, 2009, and so far the Conservatives' report is the only one posted.

The Conservatives, who remain in a dispute with Elections Canada over their spending in the 2006 election, raised a record $21 million in 2008.

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.