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OTTAWA — The federal government is forking out millions in additional overtime pay to border guards who patrol during long weekends, according to figures obtained by Postmedia News.

Last August, border services officers raked in just under $2 million in additional salary the week of the midsummer holiday — more than double the monthly average.

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Easter Monday, however, proved to be the costliest holiday, with border guards earning more than $2.6 million in overtime that week.

Canada’s border patrol also saw massive spikes in overtime pay — nearly $23 million in total — during the weeks that included Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day — which is a holiday for federal government workers — Christmas and New Year’s.

Obtained by Postmedia News through access to information, the figures are broken down weekly but each spike in overtime costs coincides with a holiday.