Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Lantsman, thank you again for initiating this important debate on Canada's response to the hostage‑taking issue. Congratulations.
Regardless of what happens to your bill, I hope that this debate will help to move things forward so that we can become more and more effective in dealing with this type of extremely worrying situation.
Clause 5 of your bill states that the Governor in Council may make any orders or regulations with respect to the restriction or prohibition of certain activities or transactions with a foreign national, foreign state or foreign entity if the Governor in Council is of the opinion that the foreign national, foreign state or foreign entity is responsible for, or complicit in, the hostage‑taking or the arbitrary detention of a Canadian national or eligible protected person outside Canada or that the foreign national, foreign state or foreign entity materially supported this type of hostage‑taking or arbitrary detention.
My question is quite simple. In the current body of legislation, what's preventing the government from taking the exact steps called for in clause 5 of your bill?