The organizers of a debate on assisted suicide and mercy killings say visa issues have kept Robert Latimer from attending their event in Britain.

The Oxford Union, a student debating society, had hoped to have the Saskatchewan farmer attend its assisted dying debate on Thursday.

Latimer was sentenced to life in prison for the second-degree murder of his disabled daughter, but is on parole.

Oxford Union president John Lee says Latimer contacted the group on the weekend to say that he wouldn't be able to attend..

Lee said it appears a problem with the visa application has kept Latimer from travelling — not his status as a convicted murderer.

The parole board had cleared Latimer to attend the debate subject to his being granted a visa by the British government.

The British High Commission in Canada won't verify the information, saying it does not talk about individual cases, and Latimer could not be reached for comment.