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OTTAWA — The federal government has quietly conceded that it made a “drafting error” in its oft-criticized refugee legislation passed last June and it appears a new law may be the only way to fix it.

A “note” posted on Citizenship and Immigration’s website just above an explanation about Canada’s new Refugee Appeal Division suggests the new provision, which allows certain failed asylum claimants to seek a second opinion, came into force four months before it was supposed to.

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Citizenship and Immigration estimates the “legislative error” means about 1,650 claimants who filed their application between Aug. 15 and Dec. 15 last year will now be able to access the Refugee Appeal Division if initially turned down.

“It was never the government’s intention to have the new Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) come into effect before the new asylum system started on Dec. 15, 2012,” says the disclaimer.