On April 12, Stephen and all members of the Ontario Legislature were sanctioned by Vladimir Putin and banned from entering Russia.

The sanctions stems from the unwavering support of Ukraine and their righteous defence against the criminal Russian invasion and the atrocities committed since.

“I wear it like a badge of honour,” said Blais. 

In their statement the Russian Foreign Ministry said:

“Due to the anti-Russian sanctions periodically imposed by the Trudeau regime against Russian officials, politicians, experts, journalists, cultural figures and athletes, as well as all those who do not please the Ottawa “mainstream” and the neo-Nazi authorities in Kiev, entry into the Russian Federation is permanently denied to 333 Canadian citizens.

Adhering to the principle of the inevitability of punishment, Russia responded to Ottawa’s hostile actions by putting Canadian leaders, parliamentarians and politicians of various levels, community activists and athletes involved in the spread of rampant Russophobia in the country on the “stop list”. This measure is also intended to encourage those on the “black list” to change their behaviour.” (translated from Russian)