May 4, 2012

Conrad Black Returning to Canada on Temporary Permit

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has granted Conrad Black permission to return to Canada for a year despite he gave up his citizenship in 2001 and has a criminal record in the United States. Lord Black now has a temporary resident permit which will allow him to live in Canada from May 2012 until May 2013.

Lord Black was sentenced last June to 42 months in prison on fraud and obstruction of justice charges related to his work at Hollinger. He would normally be inadmissible to Canada because he isn’t a Canadian citizen and has a criminal record.

Minister Jason Kenney said he couldn’t comment on specific cases, but said officials can approve temporary resident permits if they believe the applicant is at low risk to reoffend and if the offence wasn’t violent.

Watch my CBC interview regarding Conrad Black here.