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They have not, it seems, entirely lost the smarts that won them 184 seats and a whopping majority just over a month ago.

In announcing the details of its long-anticipated, feverishly speculated upon and much-criticized plan to rescue 25,000 refugees from the Syrian war by year’s end, the Liberal government deftly lopped off the last part of the promise, something they could have done three weeks ago.

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Their plan is now to bring in 10,000 refugees to Canada by year’s end, with an additional 15,000 to come in the ensuing couple of months — more or less in line with what many stakeholders and critics — including refugee advocates, some mayors, provincial premiers and the Conservative party — have demanded for weeks.

“Canadians said, if it takes a little bit longer to do it right, then that’s what you should do,” said John McCallum, Minister of Immigration and point man on the refugee effort, in explaining the change.