Martha Stewart gets Canada permit to Film segment

Televisionpoint.com Team
A disappointed Stewart had announced on her daytime show, "Martha," on Wednesday that Canadian immigration authorities had barred the ex-con from traveling to a Nova Scotia town to film a segment on its pumpkin festival.

But a Stewart spokeswoman said Thursday that a permit had been granted for her visit. This was confirmed by Canadian Immigration Minister Joe Volpe's office, according to the Canadian Press.

Stewart had planned the trip to Windsor to participate in its annual pumpkin regatta, where participants decorate giant pumpkins for a parade and then paddle them across Lake Pesaquid.

Canadian authorities, however, require special permission for convicted felons to enter the country. Stewart was convicted last year of lying to the government about a stock sale, and spent five months in prison and another five months wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet.

"There was no way I could get the visa by Saturday," Stewart said on her show.

Highlights of the festival, part of Canada's Thanksgiving Day celebration on Monday, are expected to be shown on "Martha" later this month.