Maggy, the principal responsibility in the Arar case was divided between the Syrians and the Americans (responsible for the rendition.) Canadian responsibility in both cases was secondary, but significant.  

No conflation involved, Maggy. Comparing one case, one remedy to another is the essence of the legal process.   

Frankly, I'd fall out of my chair if these settlement negotiations weren't guided by the legal advice of the best government lawyers about the outcome of the damages case.  

Making important legal decisions for the sake of appearances (optics) and litigating for another couple of years would not only have been bad public policy, it would also have been very bad law.