Maybe a paper is torn making them (12)

I believe the answer is:

preparations

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'them' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'maybe a paper is torn' is the wordplay.
'maybe' indicates an anagram.
'a'+'paper'+'is'+'torn'='apaperistorn'
'apaperistorn' is an anagram of 'PREPARATIONS'.

'making' acts as a link.

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I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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