Senator Woo: If I could then ask the question more specifically, which I think I did at the very end, what gives you the confidence that our American friends, who will be the principal users of this example you’ve set, will, in fact, use this tool with Canada as the cover, as setting the example? Because we’re not going to use this; this is not principally for Canada.

What gives you the confidence that they will not use it in a way that, in fact, violates international law and harms the prospects of countries simply because they have a political disagreement with those countries?

I hope that question is very clear this time.

Senator Omidvar: It is very clear. If the U.S. follows our example and anchors their legislation on state asset seizure in domestic law, as we are doing, then we will have set the right path.

Senator Woo: How would you imagine that the Americans will follow our example in setting a law when they are the pre‑eminent power in the world?

Senator Omidvar: The U.S. will be part of this task force that the Deputy Prime Minister has created. Legal scholars, academics and former officials will be on it. I’m not going to pre‑empt what the U.S. is going to do.

By the way, Senator Woo, I think this bill is not just aimed at the U.S. There are other nations that have frozen Russian state bank assets, including the U.K. and Japan. Europe is definitely not low-hanging fruit because of their position in the region and their dependency on Russia for all kinds of things. I don’t really believe it’s just the U.S. It is others as well.

As I said, a Canadian rolling stone can gather moss.

Senator Woo: No, except that I am sure all of us will want to think through the American example when the matter goes to the committee.