Hon. Denise Batters: Senator Omidvar, I have a couple of questions for you. First of all, as one of 1.4 million Ukrainian Canadians, I want these Russian assets to be quickly and properly seized so that those assets cannot be used to finance Putin’s illegal and brutal war against Ukraine. Could you briefly explain what this bill does that the government legislation you referenced, that was passed in the recent Budget Implementation Act, does not do?

Senator Omidvar: Thank you, Senator Batters, for that question. The bill creates a legal mechanism that would allow the Government of Canada to seize Russian state assets. As I said, there are technically now two rules: one through the court for individual assets and one through executive action. The existing State Immunity Act provides immunity from Canadian courts to all foreign states.

It’s a clarification, I would say, to the proposal that has already been accepted by the Government of Canada.