Conrad Black, the former media baron who famously renounced his Canadian citizenship to become a British lord, is working to regain his citizenship.

Black, who faces eight fraud charges in the United States, spoke during an interview aired Monday night on TVOntario, the province's public broadcaster.

Former media mogul Conrad Black, seen in 2005, is fighting charges he looted millions of dollars from Hollinger International.
(Associated Press/Brian Kersey)

The former CEO of Hollinger International renounced his citizenship in 2001 in order to sit in the British House of Lords. He made the move after then prime minister Jean Chrétien refused to let Black keep his Canadian citizenship and accept a foreign title.

During the TVOntario interview, Black said he is living at his Toronto home while building a defence against allegations he and other Hollinger executives siphoned off more than $80 million from company coffers.

He described himself Monday night as a "temporary resident" of Canada.

"I always said that I would take my citizenship back, and if it wasn't for all these legal problems, I would have done it by now," said Black in the interview with TVOntario's Steve Paikin.

"But I'm working on it, going through the normal channels like everyone else."

Black said he has no plans to enter into a plea bargain with U.S. prosecutors and that he still has confidence in the U.S. justice system.

"I have settled into my new life as a freedom fighter," said Black.

With files from the Canadian Press