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OTTAWA — The federal budget watchdog says public servants take an average of 11.5 paid sick days a year, but that the number isn’t as high as the 18 paid sick days suggested by Treasury Board President Tony Clement.

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The parliamentary budget office says in a new report that Clement’s number includes time missed due to workplace injuries and unpaid sick leave.

It estimates the salary paid for sick days amounted to $871-million in 2011-12, about 68 per cent higher than the estimate 10 years prior, which includes inflation.

But it says growth in the size of the public service, wages and number of paid sick days available all contributed to the doubling of sick-leave costs in the last decade and the use of sick leave between departments varies significantly.

The report comes as Clement prepares for a battle with public-sector unions in his quest for budget savings.