I had a few proposed amendments to present. I think that, in some respects, this is also a matter of interpretation, and that clearer definitions—such as those regarding sanctions against family members of someone who is sanctioned—could be helpful.
I therefore want to reiterate our position that we must go further with regard to immediate family members than we do with regard to dependent family members, as our allies have done. The courts have made many rulings. We must not be afraid that this will end up in court.
This has already been the subject of legal proceedings in the United States, the European Union, and Canada. It is possible to review the rulings that have been issued in third-party democratic countries.
We have a corpus of global case law that can inform these interpretations and evidence, so I would encourage a more expansive approach to the definition of family members. This will protect our own sovereignty and economy from the corrosive effects of this corrupt foreign capital.
In addition, I would underscore the rights of families. It's incredibly important that we take a victim-centric approach. As counsel to political prisoners, hostages, family members.... The common thread in all of these cases is that they want more public action and the ability to engage with the government in that regard. Having some embedded protections in the legislation that would encourage and allow for that, I think, would be most welcome.