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OTTAWA — “Unrealistic expectations” are being blamed for a dramatic spike in lawsuits, media attention and other problems facing the federal government when it comes to helping Canadians who have run into trouble overseas.

A study conducted by government officials last year but only recently made public shows the number of Canadians living and travelling outside the country has reached record highs and continues to grow.

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Foreign Affairs estimates Canadians are taking about 50 million business and tourist trips abroad each year, while another three million reside in another country.

At the same time, the number of Canadians requesting help from the government after getting arrested, being caught in a natural disaster, or finding themselves in the middle of an uprising or war is also growing.

Foreign Affairs saw a 136% increase in demand for consular services between 1998 and 2007, officials found, while demand was expected to continue to grow by between six and 10% each year between 2007 and 2012.