This would be a step forward. This is a discussion that we have with all different countries about the Magnitsky act. Everybody—all activists—has the same complaint, which is why we allow these people's family members to enjoy the fruits of their crimes in these countries when these people are sanctioned. It's shocking that Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister, was sanctioned, yet I believe his stepdaughter lives in a 5-million-pound apartment in London. She's allowed to do that, and there's nothing they can do about it.
Yes, Canada could be the leader in this whole thing. So far, this is not a concept that has been taken up by other countries. It's a concept that has been proposed by human rights campaigners all over the world to different countries. It's something that Canada can lead on.
I should point out something in my whole story about the Magnitsky act that is important for everyone to know in a broader context, which is that I was able, along with Vladimir, to get the Magnitsky act passed in the United States in 2012. We said to ourselves that we needed to have Magnitsky acts in other countries, because otherwise, people will avoid America and that will be that. I knew that most countries wouldn't follow the American lead; even back then, there was a lot of anti-Americanism. There's certainly a lot more now.
I asked myself, “What's the next country that could really set off a chain reaction in terms of legislation?” I said to myself that Canada is that country. I probably flew to Ottawa 20 times between 2012 and 2017. Marcus Kolga used all of his great experience with the political process to shepherd me, Vladimir and others through Canada. In 2017, the Canadian Parliament unanimously passed the Canadian Magnitsky act. Following that, it was like a domino effect. Everybody else said, “Well, if Canada is doing it, then we should do it.” I can say with 100% certainty that was the case: When I went to the European Union, when I went to the U.K. and when I went to Australia, everybody looked at the Canadian example.