Reality check: Minister Kenney’s detour from accountability and honesty

As British citizen Lord Black of Crossharbour packs his bags to depart his Florida prison, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney refuses to take responsibility for the decision to allow him into Canada.

Minister Kenney pretends he holds no responsibility or authority over the issuance of Temporary Resident Permits. He argues these permits are almost routine – nothing to worry about here – move along.

Unfortunately the Temporary Resident Permits Operations Manual refutes the Minister on every account:

• “The Minister is accountable to Parliament for the use of this authority” (s. 5.20)
• “Officers should issue permits with caution and only in special circumstances” (s. 5.7)
• “Powers to exclude or remove criminals were established by Parliament to protect Canadians. Decisions to allow criminally inadmissible persons to come into Canada should not be made lightly.” (s. 14)

Clearly the Minister needs to be better briefed on his own department’s processes.