Prime Minister Stephen Harper announces funding for second phase clean up of Lake Winnipeg at a press conference in Gimli, Man., Thursday, August 2, 2012 as Lake Winnipeg. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
August 02, 2012 - 2:29 PM
GIMLI, Man. - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says his immigration minister played no role in granting Conrad Black a permit to live in Canada after the former media baron was released from a Florida jail.
Harper says Jason Kenney took every step to ensure bureaucrats independently dealt with Black's file, and that it's not in the Conservative government's interest to get involved in the case.
He also called allegations against Kenney "spurious."
Harper's comments came after more than 80 lawyers signed an open letter challenging Kenney's claim that he wasn't involved in granting Black a temporary residence permit.
The letter was prompted by a grievance filed with the Law Society of Upper Canada by a staffer in Kenney's office against a Toronto lawyer who said he found it improbable that the minister didn't involve himself in the Black affair.
The Law Society found insufficient evidence to prompt an investigation.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012