An open letter to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney

The following is the full text of the letter sent by more than 80 immigration specialists who challenge Immigration Minister Jason Kenney’s insistence he had no role in granting former media baron Conrad Black a permit to live in Canada before he had finished his U.S. jail sentence.

Dear Mr. Kenney,

We, the undersigned, all members of the Ontario Bar, agree with the statement of Guidy Mamann when he asserted that it was not credible that the decision taken in relation to the Conrad Black Temporary Resident Permit was made without any input from yourself. Given the high degree of control which you exercise over your department, we do not believe that you did not give your consent, either express or tacit, in relation to the request.

The use by an official of your office, of the Law Society of Upper Canada complaint process, in order to try to silence a critic for his opinion was rightly rejected by the Law Society.  However, if you believe that our statement violates the Law Society of Upper Canada Rules please feel free to report us to the Law Society.

We find the attempt by you and your officials to muzzle freedom of expression to be reprehensible. We will not succumb.

[Names of the signers are listed in the article, linked to below.]