Imagine having to compile Russia's sanctions lists

In one of Russia's most hard-hitting moves to date, Vladimir Putin and his lackeys have sanctioned 61 "prominent Canadians" and denied them access onto Russian soil, as retribution for Canada's sanctioning of Russian functionaries and politicians over the invasion of Ukraine. 

I confess to having not heard of half of them, although I have no doubt that that are indeed prominent. I imagine they are scrambling right now, and frantically re-scheduling their impending visits to Russia.

The full list is as follows:

1. Cameron Ahmad, director of communications in the Prime Minister’s Office.
2. Steve Boivin, Commander of the Special Operations Forces Command.
3. Jeremy Broadhurst, senior adviser in the Prime Minister’s Office.
4. Shelly Bruce, chief of Communications Security Establishment.
5. Craig Baines, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.
6. Halyna Vynnyk, president of the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women.
7. David Vigneault, director of Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
8. Terry Glavin, columnist.
9. Balkan Devlen, senior fellow at Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
10. Roméo Dallaire, former senator.
11. Ryan Deming, Commander of 8 Wing at Canadian Forces Base Trenton.
12. Luc-Frédéric Gilbert, Commander of Canada’s Operation Unifier training mission in Ukraine.
13. John Ivison, National Post columnist.
14. Martine Irman, chair of the board of directors at Export Development Canada.
15. Jason Kenney, Premier of Alberta.
16. Brian Clow, deputy chief of staff to the Prime Minister.
17. Dan Costello, foreign and defense policy adviser to the Prime Minister.
18. Frederick Côté, former commander of Operation Unifier.
19. Melanie Lake, former commander of Operation Unifier.
20. Shuvaloy Majumdar, senior fellow at Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
21. Sabrina Maddeaux, National Post columnist.
22. Mark MacKinnon, senior international correspondent with The Globe and Mail.
23. Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada.
24. Roman Medyk, chair of the BCU Foundation.
25. Michael Melling, head of CTV News.
26. Borys Mikhaylets, president of the Ukrainian League of Canada.
27. Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan.
28. David Morrison, deputy minister of international trade at the Department of Global Affairs.
29. Al Meinzinger, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
30. Ketty Nivyabandi, secretary-general of Amnesty International Canada.
31. Sandra Aubé, chief of staff at Global Affairs.
32. Robert Auchterlonie, Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command at Canadian Armed Forces.
33. Mike Power, chief of staff to Defence Minister Anita Anand.
34. Alain Pelletier, deputy commander of NORAD.
35. Bob Rae, Canadian ambassador to the United Nations in New York.
36. Michael Sabia, deputy minister at Department of Finance.
37. Brian Santarpia, Commander of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic.
38. Jill Sinclair, Canadian representative to the Ukrainian Defence Reform Advisory Board.
39. Heather Stefanson, Premier of Manitoba.
40. Ryan Stimpson, former commander of Operation Unifier.
41. Michel-Henri St-Louis, acting commander of the Canadian Army.
42. John Tory, mayor of Toronto.
43. Patrick Travers, senior foreign policy adviser in the Prime Minister’s Office.
44. Jeffrey Toope, former commander of Operation Unifier.
45. Catherine Tait, president and chief executive officer of Canadian Broadcasting Corp./Radio Canada
46. Katie Telford, chief of staff to the Prime Minister.
47. David Walmsley, editor-in-chief of The Globe and Mail.
48. Jim Watson, mayor of Ottawa.
49. Graham Flack, secretary of the Treasury Board.
50. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario.
51. David Fraser, retired major-general of the Canadian Armed Forces.
52. Michael Harris, columnist.
53. Tasha Kheiriddin, columnist.
54. Sarah Heer, former commander of Operation Unifier.
55. John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia.
56. Leslie Church, chief of staff to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
57. Janice Charette, interim clerk of the Privy Council and secretary to the Cabinet.
58. Richard Shimooka, senior fellow at Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
59. Chris Ecklund, founder of FightForUkraine.ca.
60. Lloyd Axworthy, chair of the World Refugee and Migration Council.
61. Oz Jungic, senior policy adviser in the Prime Minister’s Office.

I can't help but think of the Kremlin functionary who spent sleepless nights compiling this list, who to include, who not to include. It's a unenviable task reminiscent of compiling a wedding invitation list. Frankly, I'm outraged not to be on the list myself. Does no-one read this blog?