by James Metcalfe – Pace Law Firm: Lord Black of Crossharbour also known as Conrad Black is going back to jail in the United States for further 13 months. You may recall that Conrad Black gave up his Canadian citizenship in a fit of pique so that he could become a member of the British House of Lords. Since he is no longer a Canadian citizen and presumably travels on a British passport together with his Canadian citizen wife, Lady Barbara, his Lordship has  indicated that he may wish to live on a temporary basis from time to time in Canada but has no intention of applying to have his Canadian citizenship restored.

Having been convicted of a serious crime and not being a Canadian citizen he comes  under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act of Canada and is inadmissible to Canada. The normal solution to this problem is to apply for a Temporary Resident Permit which will have to be considered by a visa office at a Canadian mission outside the Canada or perhaps directly to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration of Canada.

Being somewhat pompous and arrogant I don’t believe that Lord Black will humble himself to the point where he has prostrate himself before a  visa officer well down on pecking order of officials and the request, if one is not already being made, will go directly to the Minister’s office. I am willing to predict however that Lord Black  may have to cool his heels before he is allowed back in Canada. I do not believe the Minister will be  rushed to make the decision and face the inevitable political flak if he moved too quickly granting him a permit.

On a supplementary I note now that he is a senior citizen I wonder if he will be eligible for the Canada Pension plan and Old-Age Security.