A billionaire member of Tunisia's once-dominant ruling clan, who is believed to be hiding out in Canada, is scheduled to make a public appearance.

The Immigration and Refugee Board says Belhassen Trabelsi is due before its appeal division on April 23 to fight a decision to revoke his residency and boot him out of the country.

According to the IRB, the reason for the hearing is the appeal of an order revoking his Canadian permanent resident status.

Federal authorities have been tight-lipped about Trabelsi's status but sources have told The Canadian Press that immigration officials moved to revoke his residency last year, shortly after he arrived in January 2011. Still, Trabelsi will keep his status pending the outcome of his appeal.

He is thought to be quietly living in Montreal with his family since last year, when the Tunisian regime collapsed. The billionaire fled here with his family after a revolution toppled his brother-in-law, former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Trabelsi, the eldest brother of Ben Ali's wife, Leila Trabelsi, used his Canadian status to fly into Montreal on a private jet on Jan. 20, 2011.

Robert Gervais, a spokesman for the IRB, said Wednesday that because Trabelsi appealed, his status continues to be valid.

"There was a removal order that was made but when someone appeals that removal order, he keeps his permanent residence status. They don't lose it," said Gervais. "He still has his permanent residence status until a decision is rendered by the board member in the case of the appeal."

Gervais said no other information is in the public domain at this time, however the hearing in April is expected to be public.

To keep permanent resident status in Canada, one must be in Canada for at least two years during every five-year period.

Those who live outside of Canada can also maintain their status if they meet certain criteria — including accompanying a Canadian citizen abroad, or by working full-time for a Canadian business or province.

According to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, when the rules are not met, a permanent resident may be deemed inadmissible and issued a removal order.

The Canadian government has said previously that Trabelsi has sought refugee status in Canada and has the right to due process. The process to remove Trabelsi could potentially take years.

But Ottawa has also been clear that it doesn't want him here and would rather see him sent to the North African country.

The interim government in Tunisia has issued an international warrant for the arrest of Trabelsi and has tried him in absentia. In September, Trabelsi was sentenced to 15 years and find $500,000 for corruption, unlawful trade of precious metals and unlawful transfer of foreign currency.

In December, he received a 21-month sentence for unlawful possession of archaeological pieces.

In Canada, the government has worked to seize some of Trabelsi's assets here.

Trabelsi's arrival sparked protests from the local Tunisian community in Montreal and the spokesman for a local Tunisian group said he thinks the reclusive tycoon is still here and maintains a very low profile.

"I trust the Canadian government will ... send him back to Tunisia for a fair trial," said Haroun Bouazzi, spokesman for the Association of Human Rights in the Maghreb.

"People are still mobilized, they are really seeking something just for Tunisia and they'd love to see if Trabelsi will be sent back to Tunisia to be judged there."

However, Tunisian media and blogs have been rife with speculation that Trabelsi may have fled Canada for locations such as Venezuela and Mexico.