Conviction fallout: Trump would need special permission to attend next year's G7 in Canada

As a result of Donald Trump's criminal convictions he would require special permission, if he becomes U.S. president, to enter Canada for next year's G7 summit.

The precedent-smashing guilty verdict against a major-party U.S. presidential candidate has prompted confusion about the potential international ripple effect, given that Canada is among dozens of countries to refuse entry to felons.

Canadian officials have already begun discussing, among themselves, how they would navigate what could be a novel scenario as early as next summer. 

A federal official laid out to CBC News the Canadian government's understanding of how the rules would apply, if Trump were elected president, without his 34-count conviction being overturned on appeal.

The bottom line: It would likely fall upon Canada's immigration minister to grant Trump a special status to make him legally admissible for entry.

Canadian politicians were emphatically not touching this issue on the record when asked about it Friday, the day after a jury found Trump guilty of falsifying records.

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather said he wouldn't engage in speculation about whether Trump might become president, but he did express horror at the thought.

"I've said before that Donald Trump would be a disaster for the United States, a disaster for Canada and a disaster for the world if he came back into office," the Montreal member of Parliament told reporters Friday. 

"And I hope perhaps the results of the trial in New York would give Americans considering supporting Mr. Trump some second thoughts."

A federal cabinet member wouldn't even go that far: Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault told reporters near Montreal that Canada will work with whoever wins, and he noted the countries successfully renegotiated the continental free-trade pact under Trump.

Now here's how Trump might attend any political gathering in Canada — including the summit of G7 nations it's hosting next summer. 

Under Canada's immigration law, felons may be criminally inadmissible for both minor and serious crimes.

A Canadian border guard would have some personal discretion to let them in. However, the Canadian official explained, this case-by-case approach is reserved for minor offences, and is usually refused.

There are also ways for felons to rehabilitate themselves over time.