Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, prominent figures in the 2022 “Freedom Convoy,” have received conditional sentences and avoided additional jail time. Earlier this year, Barber was convicted of mischief and inciting others to defy a court order, while Lich was convicted of mischief. They were acquitted of several other charges.
They were each given an 18-month conditional sentence on Tuesday: spending twelve months at home with limited outings per week, followed by six months under a 10 p.m. curfew. Lich received credit for the 19 days she initially spent in jail and an additional 30 days for breaching her bail conditions. Both Barber and Lich are required to complete 100 hours of community service.
Lich’s lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, mentioned they are contemplating whether to appeal her conviction, emphasizing their primary goal was to prevent her from spending any more time in jail, which was achieved. Barber’s defense attorney, Diane Magas, stated that her client respects the judge’s decision, deeming it reasonable and in line with their expectations.
The sentencing in Ottawa followed hearings in July, where the Crown prosecutor sought significant prison terms – eight years for Barber and seven for Lich. The prosecutor argued that such harsh sentences were warranted due to the substantial impact the duo had on the public during the protests in Ottawa. Lich and Barber had urged thousands of protesters to block the city’s downtown area with their vehicles during the winter, creating prolonged gridlock. They also raised substantial funds to oppose the federal government’s COVID-19 mandates.
The federal government eventually intervened by invoking the Emergencies Act to disperse the protests. Lich and Barber’s legal representatives had requested an absolute discharge, stating that an eight-year sentence would have been excessive. An absolute discharge would have meant no criminal record for Lich.
