I am an anti-unilateralist when it comes to sanctions policy and the Canadian government. My own view is that when Canada engages in sanctions it is most effective when it is as multilateral as possible. There's no doubt that you can take multilateral sanctions and make them harsher, and go out in front of your friends and allies, but in my humble estimation that is, in general terms, not a wise way to go. The ability to act in concert, especially with close friends and allies, is critical, and if you can manage a broader way, all the way to the United Nations, even better.
I must admit that my skepticism about sanctions as a general rule is magnified when it comes to a relatively small actor such as Canada seeking to impose unilateral measures. I simply ask the question: what impact does that kind of unilateral measure have on the international system?