Sentencing decision for convoy leaders Tamara Lich, Chris Barber expected Oct. 7
Lich's lawyer defends 'positive' impact of convoy protest as sentencing hearing wraps
Tamara Lich's lawyer urged the judge to consider the "positive things" that came from the convoy occupation of downtown Ottawa in early 2022 as sentencing hearings wrapped up on Thursday.
While Justice Heather Perkins-McVey acknowledged the protest "galvanized" many, she noted others had a very different experience during the protest. She held off on a sentencing decision, which is now scheduled for Oct. 7.
Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon admitted he got emotional as he defended Lich. He seemed to choke up as he quoted from what he said were hundreds of pages of letters of support for his client, and said the protest changed lives.
"They stood up for thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands of people, who believed that their human dignity and freedoms had been compromised by government-mandated vaccinations," he said.
The Crown has argued that the protest had a profoundly negative impact on the city, costing millions of dollars in business losses and for the police response, while overwhelming downtown residents with weeks of incessant honking, exhaust fumes and general disorder.
The Crown is asking for seven years for Lich and eight for Barber, who was convicted in April of mischief and counselling others to disobey a court order. Lich was found guilty of mischief alone.
Lich had 'best of intentions,' Greenspon says
Greenspon's legal team said such a sentence is almost without precedent, claiming only one mischief case has earned such a penalty. That offender shut down a large swathe of Quebec's power grid in a case with few if any mitigating factors.
But Greenspon said there are many mitigating factors for Lich. He said she came to Ottawa with "the best of intentions" and never called for violence or lawlessness. Instead, Greenspon argued, she tried to work with police to lessen the protest's impact on the city.
The defence contrasted that with the case of Pat King, another prominent convoy figure, casting him as someone who celebrated the gridlock caused by the convoy and resisted efforts to move trucks out of residential areas.
King got a three-month conditional sentence, plus credit for time served.
Greenspon said Lich has spent enough time in jail: Nineteen days plus another 30 for a breach of her bail conditions. In his view, those conditions were punishment enough, with many lasting three and a half years.
Like Barber's lawyer, he called for an absolute discharge. That would mean no additional jail time for Lich, and no criminal record.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Subject: DAY 2: I’m back in court for the Tamara Lich sentencing
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGIksGaFJZI
DAY 2: I'm back in court for the Tamara Lich sentencing
Jul 24, 2025
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ETHICS SCANDAL: Doug Ford's prosecutors submitted 'victim impact statements' against Tamara Lich
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Tamara Lich's lawyer Lawrence Greenspon updates press as sentencing hearing continues
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUPNKeRlAdg
Tamara Lich, Chris Barber trial reeks of political retribution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB5Chnr_TfQ
Ottawa man claims Tamara Lich deserves full seven-year prison sentence
Jul 24, 2025545 Comments
Ezra recaps Tamara Lich's explosive sentencing hearing
Jul 24, 202528 Comments
Freedom Convoy TRIAL continues to take away Canadian FREEDOMS
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Tamara Lich & Chris Barber Trial: Justice or Politics? | The Pipeline
Western Standard Jul 24, 202538 Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZf9CjUIbmk
Lawyer Tells Judge The Freedom Convoy SAVED LIVES At Tamara Lich And Chris Barber Sentencing
Right Blend Jul 25, 2025 100 Comments
From: Candice Malcolm <junonews+the-candice-malcolm-show@substack.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 24, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Subject: TWO-TIERED Justice: Constitutional Lawyer weighs in on the fate of Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich & Chris B…
To: <David.Raymond.Amos333@gmail.com>
TWO-TIERED Justice: Constitutional Lawyer weighs in on the fate of Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich & Chris BarberCandice Malcolm revisits the dark era of Covid hysteria and mandates to set the scene for today’s sentencing in the mischief conviction against Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber
On today’s episode of the Candice Malcolm Show, Candice remembers the Freedom Convoy and revisits the circumstances that led to this peaceful civic uprising. As she posted on X:
 Candice revisits True North’s coverage of the Freedom Convoy, juxtaposed with the vile propaganda pushed by then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his goons in the state-run media. She talks about how this became polarizing because of the lies pushed by the Liberal establishment. Join our movement to replace the CBC! Become a premium subscriber today to view exclusive content and stay up to date on all things news & politics in Canada. Candice welcomes Constitutional Lawyer John Carpay to the program and they discuss the court case, why it’s dragging on so long, the potential miscarage of justice and the ridiculous double standards in charges and convictions in Canada. Next, they talk about Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s ongoing support of the Freedom Convoy, despite the state media’s attempts to shame and ridicule him for daring to oppose their narrative. Finally, Candice and John discuss the unconscionable case of the Alexanders – a married couple who were fired from their teaching jobs because the wife, Nicole, quietly removed a gay pride poster from her Kindergarten classroom. That’s enough to get you fired from your unionized job in Ontario. You’re currently a free subscriber to Juno News. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. .
© 2025 Candice Malcolm
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Crown seeking 8 years for convoy leader Chris Barber, 7 for Tamara Lich
Defence calls sentencing request 'cruel and unusual punishment' as submissions begin
The Crown says it's seeking an extraordinary sentence for an unprecedented crime, as court began hearing sentencing submissions Wednesday in the mischief case of Ottawa truck convoy leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber.
Crown prosecutor Siobhain Wetscher asked Justice Heather Perkins-McVey to impose a prison sentence of seven years for Lich and eight years for Barber.
But Barber's lawyer called that "cruel and unusual punishment." Instead, she argued her client should walk free with an absolute discharge.
Barber was found guilty in April of mischief and counselling others to disobey a court order, while Lich was convicted of mischief alone.
- Chris Barber, Tamara Lich not guilty on most charges for roles in 2022 convoy protests
- Poilievre, Conservative MPs criticize Crown ahead of Freedom Convoy leaders' sentencing
Wetscher admitted the sentences she's asking for are at the upper end of the range — the Criminal Code sets a maximum of 10 years for mischief — but she argued that they're justified.
"It's not a sentence that is being sought lightly, but one that the Crown believes is proportional," Wetscher said.
Wetscher said the pair played prominent leadership roles in the weeks-long occupation that took over downtown Ottawa for more than three weeks in early 2022. She said the Crown isn't seeking to punish them for their political beliefs, but for crossing the line into "sustained criminality" that paralyzed the city and flouted the law.
"The Crown acknowledges that it's seeking an extraordinary sentence in this case," she said. "However, Mr. Barber and Ms. Lich are criminally responsible for extraordinary harm and profound impact to the public."
She quoted from witness impact statements from residents and business owners who endured the protest, leaving them with hefty financial losses and lasting psychological scars.
"It's difficult to imagine an offence of mischief with greater impact," Wetscher said.
8 years an 'abusive' sentence: Barber's lawyer
But Barber's lawyer Diane Magas argued that examples of such offences are easy to find. She came armed with precedents, citing serious mischief cases that resulted in sentences far more lenient than what the Crown is seeking for Lich and Barber.
She mentioned Pat King, who was convicted for his role in the same protest but received a three-month conditional sentence, plus nine-months' credit for time served.
Wetscher argued that King was a less influential figure among the Ottawa protesters compared to Lich and Barber.
But Magas cited still other cases. She brought up the "Black Bloc" protesters at the 2010 G20 summit in Toronto. They caused extensive property damage, including upending police cars and smashing storefronts, but received comparatively light sentences of under two years.
Magas said the fear and intimidation those protesters caused was "much more severe than in this case." She said her client should get an absolute discharge, which would allow him to walk free without any jail term or criminal record.
"The sentence sought was excessive, abusive and would amount to cruel and unusual punishment," she said of the Crown submission.
At the very least, she said Barber should be able to serve a conditional sentence in the community, not in prison.
Magas quoted from character letters that described Barber as a pillar of his community in Swift Current, Sask., a responsible business owner with strong family ties. She said a criminal record will mean a big hit to his trucking business, since it will make it difficult for him to cross the border into the United States.
She said there are also mitigating factors in how Barber handled the protest, such as his willingness to work with police to move some trucks from residential areas to Wellington Street.
Perkins-McVey agreed that was a mitigating factor, though she noted that it only limited the protest, without ending it.
Lawrence Greenspon, who represents Lich, is expected to make his sentencing submissions on Thursday.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Convoy organizer Steeve Charland won't serve time behind bars
Les Farfadaas figure to serve 6-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to mischief
A key figure in the Freedom Convoy protest has been sentenced following his criminal conviction, but he won't serve time behind bars.
In December, an Ontario Superior Court judge found Steeve Charland guilty of mischief for his role in the protest that shut down parts of downtown Ottawa in early 2022.
On Monday, Charland received a suspended sentence of six months, which does not involve jail time. The Crown and defence had requested suspended sentences of 18 months and three months, respectively.
During his testimony last year, Charland said he did not understand why he was on the docket at all, insisting he had acted within the limits of the law.
Charland was arrested by Ontario Provincial Police officers in Vankleek Hill, Ont., in February 2022.
From Grenville, Que., Charland is known as a spokesperson for Les Farfadaas, a Quebec group formed to protest against public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That group was formed from La Meute, regarded by experts as a far-right, anti-Islam and anti-immigration group.
People wearing Les Farfadaas patches and leather jackets could often be found around the protest site during the three-week occupation of Ottawa.
With files from Radio-Canada's Charles Lalande
Pat King relying on defence that he got 'erroneous advice'
King's lawyer says he partly accepts guilt, but should not be held accountable
The lawyer for one of the key figures in the 2022 convoy protests says her client now accepts his guilt has partly been proven — but he should still not be held accountable because he got bad advice from the authorities.
Pat King helped organize logistics and promoted the protests that became known as the Freedom Convoy on social media.
He has pleaded not guilty to mischief, intimidation and several counselling charges.
King's lawyer, Natasha Calvinho, has been arguing at his trial there was an officially induced error — meaning that although King partly acknowledges his guilt, he should not be convicted because he obtained "erroneous advice" from an official and relied on that advice when he committed the offences he's accused of.
It remains unclear what that advice was, however, or who the official giving it could have been.
Police
enforce an injunction against the convoy protesters in February 2022.
Several police officers have been called to testify at King's trial. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
Calvinho has called witnesses that include a City of Ottawa official, supporters of the protests and police officers tasked with reaching out to protesters both leading up to and during the events that resulted in swaths of downtown being blocked.
Beyond trying to prove an official error and a failure of "all levels of government," Calvinho has suggested protesters were "barricaded" in the city and prevented from leaving by police.
'We weren't trying to keep people there'
During testimony this week, police officers told the court none of the protesters showed any willingness to leave.
One of those officers, Ottawa Police Service Const. Mathew Bickford, said he realized it would take a "collective effort" to remove the trucks that had clogged up the area near Parliament Hill.
But Bickford also testified that nobody was asking to leave the area — despite being told by authorities to do so.
"We weren't trying to keep people there," said Bickford. "It was actually the opposite."
Bickford testified there were instances when protesters would leave on their own free will overnight without police help. The court also saw evidence showing the number of vehicles in the downtown core was regularly fluctuating.
Like in other high-profile trials of key protest figures, police officers testified to instances of feeling unsafe and being "swarmed" by the crowds.
Kim Ayotte, seen here last fall, testified under cross-examination Friday that King was recognized as a leader of the protests. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
Crown prosecutors have entered social media posts and other evidence to show King used his influence to direct protesters to Ottawa's downtown after authorities had told people to stay away.
That evidence included a video taken during the protest by King and posted to his social media, in which he brags about "sneaking" trucks into the city's core.
Prosecutors also accuse him of organizing a "slow roll" protest involving vehicles driving by the Ottawa International Airport.
Retired city GM testifies
After a morning of testimony from Kim Ayotte, the city's recently retired general manager of emergency and protective services, there was a lengthy discussion between prosecutors, Calvinho and Justice Charles Hackland about its relevance.
Ayotte agreed with Calvinho it was Ottawa Police Service's responsibility to keep the peace and handle crowd management on behalf of the city.
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City officials negotiated moving trucks to Wellington, trial of convoy leaders hears
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Convoy trial defence lawyer argues police directed protesters into downtown Ottawa
But the Crown argued there was little relevance of the testimony to either the criminal trial or King's defence that someone in authority committed an "officially induced error."
Pat King has pleaded not guilty to nine charges stemming from the 2022 demonstrations. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)
King identified as leader
After an extended lunch break, Calvinho returned and focused her questions for Ayotte.
She pointed to evidence that police and Ayotte had little or no knowledge of King's role in the protests — in fact, very few witnesses called by either party had significant direct interactions with King.
But under cross-examination, Ayotte said King was recognized as a leader of the protests.
Ayotte told the court the "red zone" designated by police was done to manage traffic flow in and out of the downtown core, and barriers were put on certain roads to maintain emergency routes or to prevent trucks from parking.
He said he'd originally proposed the city and police prevent trucks from entering the city altogether, but was told by legal counsel that wasn't an option because it would be unconstitutional. The city has since changed its opinion on this.
Calvinho has signaled she is likely to call more police officers to testify, but told court her arguments should be done by Tuesday. King is not expected to enter the witness box.
Closing submissions are scheduled for Friday.
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Tyson Billings a.k.a. Freedom George released from jail after guilty plea
Prominent Freedom Convoy figure pleaded guilty to 1 of several charges; others withdrawn
Prominent convoy protester released from jail after pleading guilty to one chargeTyson George Billings, a prominent figure in this winter's Freedom Convoy in Ottawa who is also known as Freedom George, pleaded guilty in court Wednesday to one of several charges against him and has been released from jail.
Billings was sentenced to six months of probation and is expected to return to his home in High Prairie, Alta., court heard.
He pleaded guilty to one count of counselling to commit mischief, and the other charges he faced were withdrawn.
He is the convoy's first major figure to plead guilty.
Greeted by dozens of supporters as he exited the courthouse, Billings agreed with the court's assessment he was taking part in a protest and got carried away.
"I got caught up in the moment, sure, who wouldn't? We're all freedom fighters, everybody got caught up in the moment," he said.
"I accept responsibility for the mischief charge. ... I don't regret anything."
By taking responsibility for his role in the protests, Billings mitigated the pursuit of a long sentence, according to the Crown. The joint submission from the Crown and Billings' lawyer asked for him to be released with time served.
Billings told reporters outside the courhouse he was treated well in jail, and his fellow inmates treated him like a celebrity. He also said he will leave Ottawa "as fast as possible" but will continue to fight for freedom, potentially as part of future protests.
Tyson
Billings, a prominent figure in this winter's Freedom Convoy who is
also known as Freedom George, leaves the Ottawa Courthouse after
pleading guilty to one of the charges against him and being released
June 15, 2022. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)
Billings' Feb. 19 arrest was broadcast to thousands of viewers who regularly tuned into his social media feeds during the protest that saw Ottawa's downtown occupied for weeks.
His booming chants of "Freedom" and "Let's go" have become synonymous with the ongoing "Freedom Movement."
During the protests, Billings would often appear alongside Pat King, another prominent figure and one of the convoy leaders.
The two were co-accused of two counts each of intimidation and obstructing police, and one count each of mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to obstruct police, counselling intimidation, disobeying a court order and counselling to disobey a court order.
Tyson George Billings faced several charges from the Freedom Convoy protest-turned-occupation this past winter. (Facebook)
Supporters with close contact to Billings expected his release following his 10 a.m. court appearance.
On Sunday, Selena Paley, one of the Freedom Central Canada organizers, said she and two other members of Freedom Central Canada were travelling to Ottawa to pick Billings up and support him after his release.
She asked supporters to come to the Ottawa Courthouse in support of Billings — who she describes as being "integral" to trucker safety during the Ottawa protests and "a man who put a lot on the line during the Freedom Convoy."
Continued support for Freedom Central Canada
Throughout his detention, Billings, usually through supporters, has continued to solicit funds through his social media accounts and website, selling Freedom Convoy-related merchandise.
In April, he spoke directly to supporters from the Quinte Detention Centre in Napanee, asking them to buy merchandise from him and support Freedom Central Canada, which for many has become a favoured source of information and updates on Freedom-related movements since police cleared protesters from Ottawa streets.
"I'm doing OK, I am missing my family a lot, though," he said in a phone call broadcast live to supporters.
He told supporters how to financially support him, saying his mom had paid a $30,000 retainer for his legal counsel. He said his mom is also covering his bills including child support payments and truck loans.
Supporters
circulated a poster online about the expected release of Billings,
better known as Freedom George for his prominence during the Freedom
Convoy in Ottawa. (Facebook)
Billings said he was giving information directly to Freedom Central Canada to share with supporters.
In recent weeks, Freedom Central Canada has featured well-known anti-vaxxer Chris Sky and other prominent figures in the Freedom Movement, including one person who's campaigning across Canada to Ottawa in support of a future protest.
The two people behind that group — Selena Paley and Cody Kuntz — travelled to Ottawa to welcome Billings after this release.
"We are happy with the result and the co-operation from the Crown prosecutor," said Paley.
"The one guilty plea of counselling to commit mischief I think is reasonable in this case. Whether George is guilty or not is not up for us to decide."
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Freedom Convoy leaders face new criminal charges
Accused now jointly face more mischief, intimidation and obstructing police charges
The Crown has laid more charges against three key leaders of the so-called Freedom Convoy.
Tamara Lich, Chris Barber and Pat King all appeared in court virtually Thursday, a little more than one month after the weeks-long occupation of Ottawa's downtown core was brought to an end.
Lich was behind a now-halted GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $10 million to support the protests in Ottawa.
She was arrested Feb. 17, denied bail, but then released from jail on March 7 on the condition she leave Ottawa within 24 hours, refrain from using social media and have no contact with certain co-organizers.
Chris Barber, another key organizer, was arrested at the same time as Lich but released a day later under similar conditions.
Until now, Barber faced charges including counselling to commit mischief, counselling to disobey a court order, counselling to obstruct police, and mischief that interferes with the use and enjoyment of property.
And Lich was charged only with counselling to commit mischief.
On Thursday, the Crown submitted a relaid information sheet from Ottawa police, laying out six charges each for Barber and Lich.
According to the document, the two are now jointly accused of mischief, counselling mischief, obstructing police, counselling to obstruct police, counselling intimidation, and intimidation by blocking and obstructing one or more highways.
At the Ontario Court of Justice on Thursday, Barber and Lich's lawyer, Diane Magas, said she'd like to review the new charges with her clients.
Lich and Barber are both next scheduled to appear in court in April.
Magas also said she'd like to have a bail review to modify the conditions of Lich's social media ban. The Crown, however, said it would be up to the court to decide whether it has jurisdiction to further review the conditions.
King charged with intimidation, obstructing police
King, an Alberta resident and one of the most vocal leaders of the three-week occupation, had been facing four charges stemming from his Feb. 18 arrest, which he livestreamed to thousands of viewers.
Court heard Thursday he now faces new additional charges, bringing the total to 10:
- Two counts of intimidation.
- Two counts of obstructing police.
- One count of disobeying a court order.
- One count of counselling intimidation.
King had been previously charged with mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to obstruct police and counselling to disobey a court order. Those charges remain.
He was patched into his hearing Thursday from the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre, where he's been held since his bail was denied late last month.
While the Crown argued King was not entitled to another bail hearing, lawyer Cal Rosemond — who had not been retained by King but was in court on his behalf — argued he deserved one, given the "vastly different" nature of the new charges.
King is also now listed as a co-accused with Tyson George Billings, who was arrested on similar charges on the weekend police finally cleared out the occupation.
King's next court appearance is slated for April 4.
UPDATE: What I saw in Tamara Lich’s hearing today
Outrageous. Unprecedented. Clearly, this is political vengeance against freedom activists who embarrassed the government — not about the law.
680 Comments
POLITICAL PROSECUTION: Crown Seeks 8 YEARS for Convoy Organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber
Right Blend Freedom Convoy trucker protest organizer Chris Barber's defence counsel Diane Magas called the crown's request for 8 years behind bars cruel and unusual punishment that is abusive and excessive. She's right.
51 Comments
Smith challenges Ottawa, Convoy sentencing begins, Cdns say too many immigrants | Buffalo Roundtable
See all of our live shows!
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540 Comments
Crown seeking lengthy prison terms for Freedom Convoy organizers as sentencing looms
Jul 23, 20257 years in prison Lich and Barber while violent criminals go free?
The National Telegraph Wyatt Claypool talks about the need for judicial appointments to become a bigger issue for Conservatives and how recent headlines and the Tamara Lich & Chris Barber sentencing shows the corruption of the current system.
234 Comments
Justin Trudeau’s Canada: 7 Years for Peaceful Protest?!
841 Comments
Poilievre denounces shocking prison sentences Crown is requesting for convoy organizers Lich, Barber
David Menzies and Sheila Gunn Reid react to news that Crown prosecutors are seeking seven and eight year prison sentences for Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber.
275 Comments
Poilievre Drops NUCLEAR BOMBSHELL On Freedom Convoy
Banana Republic - Canadian SHOW TRIAL of Freedom Convoy Leaders - Chris Barber & Tamara Lich
STARTING NOW: I’m in the Ottawa court house for Tamara Lich’s sentencing
Rebel News publisher Ezra Levant is on the ground in Ottawa as Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are set to be sentenced for their roles in organizing the anti-mandate protests of 2022.
456 Comments
From: Radcliffe, Tim (MAG) <Tim.Radcliffe@ontario.ca>
Date: Wed, Jul 23, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Subject: Automatic reply: Tamara Lich and Chris Barber sentencing hearing starts July 23rd
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
I am out of the office until July 25, 2025. Following my return, I will reply to your email as soon as possible.
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jul 23, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Subject: Tamara Lich and Chris Barber sentencing hearing starts July 23rd
To: <tim.radcliffe@ontario.ca>, <dianecondo@bell.net>, <editor@centretownbuzz.com>, Dana-lee Melfi <Dana_lee_ca@hotmail.com>, <dan@ottawalife.com>, ragingdissident <ragingdissident@protonmail.com>, prontoman1 <prontoman1@protonmail.com>, <Vincent.gircys@gmail.com>, <Rolanda.Ahadjitse@ontario.ca>, <Olivia.Khalil@ontario.ca>, <CrownAdminOttawa@ontario.ca>, Mike.Comeau <Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>, Moiz.Karimjee <Moiz.Karimjee@ontario.ca>, <natasha.calvinho@gmail.com>, <lawrence@gghlawyers.ca>, sheilagunnreid <sheilagunnreid@gmail.com>, <ezra@forcanada.ca>, premier <premier@gov.ab.ca>, glen.motz <glen.motz@parl.gc.ca>, <blilley@postmedia.com>, kingpatrick278 <kingpatrick278@gmail.com>, livefromtheshed2022 <livefromtheshed2022@gmail.com>, <eric@gghlawyers.ca>, <unacceptablefringeyt@gmail.com>
Cc: <jasonlavigne@outlook.com>, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, <ps.ministerofpublicsafety-ministredelasecuritepublique.sp@ps-sp.gc.ca>, Sean.Fraser <Sean.Fraser@parl.gc.ca>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>, Marco.Mendicino <Marco.Mendicino@parl.gc.ca>, <dlametti@fasken.com>, Nathalie.G.Drouin <Nathalie.G.Drouin@pco-bcp.gc.ca>, dominic.leblanc <dominic.leblanc@parl.gc.ca>, djtjr <djtjr@trumporg.com>, rob.moore <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, John.Williamson <John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca>, premier <Premier@ontario.ca>, <frank.au@ontario.ca>, fin.minfinance-financemin.fin <fin.minfinance-financemin.fin@canada.ca>, <chrystia.freeland@canada.ca>, <francois-philippe.champagne@parl.gc.ca>, Yves-Francois.Blanchet <Yves-Francois.Blanchet@parl.gc.ca>, Frank.McKenna <Frank.McKenna@td.com>
Monday, 21 July 2025
Tamara Lich and Chris Barber sentencing hearing starts July 23rd
From: Ezra Levant — personal <info@rebelnews.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 22, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Subject: Please help me pay for Tamara Lich’s bodyguard tomorrow
To: David Amos <David.Raymond.Amos333@gmail.com>
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Ezra Levant rips 'out of control prosecutors' seeking multi-year prison sentence for Tamara Lich
Ezra Levant recounts the anti-mandate Freedom Convoy protests of early 2022 and questions why prosecutors are seeking a seven-year prison sentence for Tamara Lich.
Pierre Poilievre DEFENDS Tamara Lich and Chris Barber! | FREEDOM CONVOY
624 Comments
2 Comments
From: Juno News <junonews@substack.com>
Date: Wed, Jul 23, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Subject: Juno Jump Start | Minister defends letters for terrorist as ordinary MP work
To: <David.Raymond.Amos333@gmail.com>
Juno Jump Start | Minister defends letters for terrorist as ordinary MP workGary Anandasangaree defends his decision to write immigration pleas for an accused terrorist, Brett Wilson predicts Steven Guilbeault won’t survive the year, and more
Minister defends letters for terrorist as ordinary MP workIn defence of his actions, Liberal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says he was just doing his job as a Member of Parliament when he previously wrote immigration pleas on behalf of an accused terrorist.
The Candice Malcolm Show | “Guilbeault will be gone by Christmas” + absurd media coverage of Premier Smith’s Alberta Next townhallsOn this episode of The Candice Malcolm Show, Dragon’s Den star and investor Brett Wilson makes a bold prediction: former Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault won’t survive the year. Brett joins Candice to talk about how the Liberals are trying to reinvent themselves under Mark Carney — but can’t seem to shake the Trudeau-era dogma that made them unappealing to Canadians in the first place.
U.S. Commerce Secretary says free trade is possible, but tariffs stay on CanadaU.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says free trade with Canada is still functioning under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, but made clear that tariffs on Canadian goods will remain in place unless Canada opens its markets. Our work is sustained by readers who value transparency and integrity. Subscribe to Juno News to access our latest reports and uphold independent media. Judge stalls guilty plea of homicide-linked immigrant over likely deportationA Canadian judge hit the brakes on a guilty plea from a non-citizen linked to a homicide and facing serious criminal charges, citing discomfort with the fact that the accused would likely be deported if found guilty. Premiers renew calls for west-to-east pipeline at Muskoka SummitThree of Canada’s premiers have renewed calls for a pipeline that would run from Western Canada to refineries located in the east, making the country less reliant on the United States and elsewhere. Top 20% of income-earning families pay nearly 60% of all taxesThe top 20 per cent of income-earning families in Canada pay nearly 60 per cent of all taxes, according to a new study by the Fraser Institute.
CBC replaces scrapped bonuses with record-high pay raisesDespite public outcry that led the CBC to claim it had cancelled taxpayer-funded bonuses, in their stead, the public broadcaster proceeded to distribute generous pay raises to employees in 2024-25. Conservatives demand end to loophole enabling longest ballot “scam”The Conservatives are calling on the federal government to close what they call a glaring loophole in Canada’s election laws — one that’s being abused by a group to flood ballots with a record number of protest ‘candidates.’ Antisemitism czar's school report left out crucial factsDeborah Lyon’s scathing report on antisemitism in Ontario schools didn’t tell the full story and her quiet retirement as the federal envoy to combat anti-Jewish hate came just as more facts began to emerge. Jasper issues update on provincial response after Smith demands apologyThe Municipality of Jasper has clarified that its wildfire recovery report was never intended to criticize the province, prompting new statements by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis.
The Daily Brief | Nurses asked to reject "white, European" medicineCanada’s nursing profession is being overhauled by identity politics as a new Code of Ethics forces nurses to adopt social justice and climate activism into their medical care. Help us build a future where Canadians can get fact-based news and learn the truth, not through the filter of government-funded journalism but from trusted voices obsessed with facts and the truth. Support independent journalism. Share our work with your friends and family! You’re currently a free subscriber to Juno News. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. .
© 2025 Candice Malcolm
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Canadian Political Affairs update with Brian Lilley l July 22, 2025 l BCN
116 Comments
From: Karimjee, Moiz (MAG) <Moiz.Karimjee@ontario.ca>
Date: Mon, Jun 30, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: RE Crown seeks forfeiture of convoy organizer’s truck
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
If you require immediate attention please email Deputy Crown Attorneys Fara Rupert at Fara.Rupert@ontario.ca or Carl Lem at Carl.Lem@ontario.ca . I am no on vacation and returning to work on Friday July 4th.
Thanks
Moiz Karimjee
Acting Deputy Crown Attorney| Ottawa
Ministry of Attorney General| Ontario Public Service
613-882-7861 | Moiz.Karimjee@ontario.ca
From: Au, Frank (MAG) <Frank.Au@ontario.ca>
Date: Mon, Jun 30, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: RE Crown seeks forfeiture of convoy organizer’s truck
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
I am taking an extended leave, and away from the office until Fall 2025.
If you require assistance, please call 416.326.4600 and ask for the Duty Crown.
Thank you,
Frank
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 30, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Subject: RE Crown seeks forfeiture of convoy organizer’s truck
To: <tim.radcliffe@ontario.ca>, <dianecondo@bell.net>, <editor@centretownbuzz.com>, Dana-lee Melfi <Dana_lee_ca@hotmail.com>, <dan@ottawalife.com>, ragingdissident <ragingdissident@protonmail.com>, prontoman1 <prontoman1@protonmail.com>, <Vincent.gircys@gmail.com>, <Rolanda.Ahadjitse@ontario.ca>, <Olivia.Khalil@ontario.ca>, <CrownAdminOttawa@ontario.ca>, Mike.Comeau <Mike.Comeau@gnb.ca>, <Moiz.Karimjee@ontario.ca>, <natasha.calvinho@gmail.com>, <lawrence@gghlawyers.ca>, <sheilagunnreid@gmail.com>, <ezra@forcanada.ca>, premier <premier@gov.ab.ca>, glen.motz <glen.motz@parl.gc.ca>, <blilley@postmedia.com>, kingpatrick278 <kingpatrick278@gmail.com>, livefromtheshed2022 <livefromtheshed2022@gmail.com>, <eric@gghlawyers.ca>
Cc: pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, <ps.ministerofpublicsafety-ministredelasecuritepublique.sp@ps-sp.gc.ca>, Sean.Fraser <Sean.Fraser@parl.gc.ca>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>, Marco.Mendicino <Marco.Mendicino@parl.gc.ca>, <dlametti@fasken.com>, Nathalie.G.Drouin <Nathalie.G.Drouin@pco-bcp.gc.ca>, dominic.leblanc <dominic.leblanc@parl.gc.ca>, djtjr <djtjr@trumporg.com>, rob.moore <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, John.Williamson <John.Williamson@parl.gc.ca>, premier <Premier@ontario.ca>, <frank.au@ontario.ca>, fin.minfinance-financemin.fin <fin.minfinance-financemin.fin@canada.ca>, <chrystia.freeland@canada.ca>, <francois-philippe.champagne@parl.gc.ca>, Yves-Francois.Blanchet <Yves-Francois.Blanchet@parl.gc.ca>, Frank.McKenna <Frank.McKenna@td.com>
Crown seeks forfeiture of convoy organizer’s truck
UPDATE April 28: Chris Barber’s application to stay the proceedings is scheduled to be heard May 21 to 23, with Barber speaking in his own defence for the first time. Tamara Lich will not be joining in that application, her lawyer Lawrence Greenspon told the court. Crown prosecutor Tim Radcliffe said the Crown has filed for a summary dismissal of the application.
Greenspon has requested a Gladue report (a presentencing report for those of Indigenous background) for Lich, which is expected to take eight to 10 weeks to prepare. Another hearing for this trial will occur on June 27, to confirm the status of that report. Lich and Barber’s sentencing hearing is now tentatively set for July 23 to 24.
Alayne McGregor
Chris Barber – recently convicted of mischief for his role as an organizer of the 2022 convoy occupation – is now facing the possible forfeiture of his truck, Big Red, by the Crown.
And in a separate application, Barber’s lawyer, Diane Magas, has filed an application to stay the proceedings against Barber on the basis of “officially induced error.” She did not specify the nature of those errors in court.
Both these applications were revealed April 16 in what was only supposed to be a hearing to determine when Barber’s and Tamara Lich’s sentences would be handed down.
Justice Heather Perkins-McVey, the two Crown prosecutors, and Lich’s lawyer Eric Granger said they had only received Magas’ application to stay proceedings during the lunch hour, just before the 1:30 p.m. hearing. Granger said that he and lawyer Lawrence Greenspon would need a week to decide whether to join in the application.
Crown prosecutor Tim Radcliffe confirmed that the Crown was seeking forfeiture of Big Red as part of Barber’s sentence. Magas said she had just received notice of this application.
Lich and Barber attended the hearing by Zoom. While Lich was sitting on a couch, Barber was clearly behind the wheel of his truck, and the judge noted he appeared to be driving it. Magas excused the driving saying that Barber was not expected to take part in the proceedings.
There was also a large Canadian flag visible behind Barber in the truck.
On April 3, Justice Perkins-McVey convicted Lich and Barber of mischief and counselling to commit mischief for organizing the convoy occupation. She also convicted Barber of counselling to disobey the court order to stop sounding the truck horns.
At this hearing, she emphasized again that she wished to ensure the sentencing was done in “a timely fashion”. But she also said she was not willing to send the forfeiture hearing to a duty judge because “there is no other judge who knows what this is about.”
The hearing will resume April 28 to determine dates for and the length of the sentencing hearing and the forfeiture hearing, as well as when the application to stay will be heard.
The judge had the dates May 21 to 23 set aside for hearings. Both the judge and the Crown prosecutors indicated they would have to miss a conference in order to hold the hearings then but did not wish to delay the case any further.
Magas said that Barber would testify when the application to stay proceedings is heard. He had not testified during the trial.
The BUZZ has closed off comments on this story after a flood of comments. We have published a representative number of comments on both sides, but not those that contained threats or mentions of violence. We do NOT endorse any of the statements in these comments.
Welcome, Alayne McGregor
The Centretown BUZZ welcomes a new managing editor with this issue.
Alayne McGregor is a long-time Ottawa journalist and citizen activist. If you’re a local jazz fan, you may have seen her intently listening and taking notes at local jazz shows, interviewing jazz musicians, or videoing everyone from student big bands to a group playing in an empty swimming pool.
For the last 10 years, she has been the editor of OttawaJazzScene.ca, an online news site which covered the local, Canadian, and international jazz scene.
She’s also well-known as an advocate for Ottawa cyclists, formerly as president, board member, and a volunteer with Citizens for Safe Cycling (now Bike Ottawa) for more than 20 years.
She was a founding member of the city’s first cycling advisory group and served on the project steering committee that developed the first cycling plans for the City of Ottawa and the former Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton. In 2003, she received the City of Ottawa’s Bruce Timmermans award for her work to improve local cycling conditions.
She served for nine years on the Ottawa Public library board, dealing with issues ranging from Internet porn to new library locations to budget cutbacks.
After Ottawa was amalgamated, she helped to bring different libraries into one system. She was also president of her local community association and lost count years ago of the number of city advisory committees she’s served on.
McGregor has a degree in computer science and worked for many years as a software designer.
But even when she was in university, the student newspaper was a constant passion and temptation. The year after graduation, she was vice-president of Canadian University Press, working in the old Rideau Winter Club in downtown Ottawa.
She’s also been a regular reader of The BUZZ.
“Community newspapers are special: they’re more personal and more accessible than a Postmedia paper filled with wire copy,” she says.
“The articles are by people you might know or meet in the grocery store; they’re about issues that directly affect you as a citizen and a Centretowner. Even the ads are more relevant.
“They’re fun to read and fun to put together. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Contact
How to contact us:
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Premier of Ontario | Premier ministre de l’Ontario <Premier@ontario.ca>
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2022 22:15:25 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Tamara Lich's lawyers must have
known that Moiz Karimjee was on vacation N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.c
Thank you for your email. Your thoughts, comments and input are greatly valued.
You can be assured that all emails and letters are carefully read,
reviewed and taken into consideration.
There may be occasions when, given the issues you have raised and the
need to address them effectively, we will forward a copy of your
correspondence to the appropriate government official. Accordingly, a
response may take several business days.
Thanks again for your email.
______
Merci pour votre courriel. Nous vous sommes très reconnaissants de
nous avoir fait part de vos idées, commentaires et observations.
Nous tenons à vous assurer que nous lisons attentivement et prenons en
considération tous les courriels et lettres que nous recevons.
Dans certains cas, nous transmettrons votre message au ministère
responsable afin que les questions soulevées puissent être traitées de
la manière la plus efficace possible. En conséquence, plusieurs jours
ouvrables pourraient s’écouler avant que nous puissions vous répondre.
Merci encore pour votre courriel.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Ahadjitse, Rolanda (MAG)" <Rolanda.Ahadjitse@ontario.ca>
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2022 22:15:25 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: Methinks Tamara Lich's lawyers must have
known that Moiz Karimjee was on vacation N'esy Pas?
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.c
Please note that I will be out of office from June 28th to July 15th
and will not have access to my email during this time. For all SCJ
matters please send an email to Olivia Khalil at
Olivia.Khalil@ontario.ca
For all other matters please contact the Crown's Office at (613)
239-1200 or CrownAdminOttawa@ontario.ca<ma
Poilievre, Conservative MPs criticize Crown ahead of Freedom Convoy leaders' sentencing
Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were convicted of mischief in April
Several Conservative MPs and leader Pierre Poilievre are criticizing the Crown's approach to prosecuting two key organizers of the Freedom Convoy protests, with the party's deputy leader calling it an act of "political vengeance."
Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were convicted of mischief in April for their roles in organizing the demonstration, which blockaded streets around Parliament Hill in Ottawa for more than three weeks in early 2022.
Barber was also convicted of counselling others to disobey a court order.
They were found not guilty of several charges, including counselling others to commit mischief.
A sentencing hearing for Barber and Lich is scheduled to take place in Ottawa on Wednesday.
Lich has posted on social media that the Crown is seeking a sentence of seven years for her and eight years for Barber.
Barber, left, and Lich near the Ottawa courthouse on April 3. They are set to face a sentencing hearing on Wednesday. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)
She posted a screen shot of part of the Crown's submission to the judge, which called their actions "the worst case of mischief" and argued that the right to political expression has never existed without limitations. The Canadian Press has not independently verified the screen shot.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre posted on X on Monday to question the Crown's approach.
"Let's get this straight: while rampant violent offenders are released hours after their most recent charges and antisemitic rioters vandalize businesses, terrorize daycares and block traffic without consequences, the Crown wants seven years prison time for the charge of mischief for Lich and Barber," he said.
"How is this justice?"
In her own social media post, deputy Conservative leader Melissa Lantsman said that if "the Crown suddenly wants to apply the law — equal application of law would be a good start — but this is political vengeance not actual justice and it's why trust in our institutions is dwindling."
Ontario Conservative MP Andrew Lawton called the proposed sentencing range "excessive and vindictive."
"The Crown is seeking a seven-year sentence (eight for Chris) for a three-week peaceful protest almost 3½ years ago. All while violent offenders are given slaps on the wrist," Lawton said.
Saskatchewan MP Jeremy Patzer described the proposed sentence as seven to eight years "for holding the line and causing Justin Trudeau a political emergency." He compared it to a case in which a man was given a conditional discharge for trying to buy sex from someone he believed was 15 years old.
"It is pretty clear what the Liberals' priorities are. Conservatives are the only ones proposing to fix our laws so that the real criminals end up behind bars," Patzer said.
A spokesperson from Poilievre's office said in a statement that MPs "are raising concerns because the sentencing sought by the Crown in this particular case appears completely disproportionate, particularly when compared to violent criminals who have gotten away with a mere slap on the wrist."
The Conservatives ran on a tough-on-crime platform in the April election. Poilievre promised "jail not bail" for repeat offenders and pledged to legislate life sentences for some human trafficking and drug offences — promises that constitutional experts said would almost certainly be struck down by the courts.
Monday's social media posts came after a number of prominent right-wing social media influencers and personalities called out Poilievre and his MPs over their alleged lack of support for Lich and Barber.
'Dangerous' for MPs to weigh in on prosecution: expert
Lich and Barber have been greeted by vocal supporters at each of their court appearances and Lich's post had thousands of likes and comments on Monday.
Michael Spratt, an Ottawa-based defence lawyer, called the MPs' decision to weigh in on the proposed sentencing "craven politics."
"It is very dangerous for politicians to be weighing in on matters before the court," he said.
Spratt said there is a long-standing convention that politicians must not impose their views on the judicial system in Canada.
But sometimes politicians step over that line. In 2021, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that it was "beyond comprehension" that the suspect in a homicide case involving the death of a Toronto police officer had been granted bail.
The accused was found not guilty in 2024. Spratt said politicians who were critical of the justice system at the time ended up looking foolish when the facts of the case came out.
Freedom Convoy organizer Pat King gets 3-month conditional sentencePoliticians who choose to leverage high-profile cases to "advance a political narrative" ultimately end up devaluing the work of the courts, Spratt said.
The spokesperson for Poilievre's office said MPs are exercising their freedom to "raise concerns about disproportionate sentencing in the justice system."
"It's the job of the Opposition to raise questions about consistency and proportionality in the criminal justice system, including sentencing law and policy, illuminated by specific cases," the spokesperson said.
Spratt said the Conservative criticism undersells the nature of the offences; although the charge is "mischief," this isn't an instance like a child misbehaving, Spratt argued. The case involves two organizers of a demonstration that cost millions of dollars in damage and caused "real harm" to thousands of downtown Ottawa residents, he said.
In delivering the guilty verdicts, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey said Lich and Barber routinely encouraged people to join or remain at the protest, even though they knew the effect it was having on people and businesses downtown.
Thousands
of protesters, vehicles and big rig trucks converge on downtown Ottawa
in early 2022 in opposition to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, vaccine
mandates and the government of then prime minister Justin Trudeau. (CBC/Radio-Canada)
Thousands of protesters, vehicles and big rig trucks converged on downtown Ottawa in early 2022 in opposition to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, vaccine mandates and the government of then prime minister Justin Trudeau.
The demonstrators refused to leave the downtown, with many honking their truck horns at all hours even after a court injunction ordered them to stop. Residents in the area complained of being harassed and said the smell of diesel fumes was overwhelming.
Poilievre was supportive of the protesters during the demonstration. He brought coffee and doughnuts to some of the truckers and called them "honest, hardworking, decent people" in a February 2022 video taken outside Parliament.
Some of the people involved in the protest said they wanted to overthrow the government. Poilievre said at the time that the truckers should not be disparaged as a group for the views of certain individuals.
The protest was eventually broken up by a massive police operation after the Trudeau government invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in the country's history.
A federal public inquiry was held to examine the use of the law, which gave government, police and financial institutions extraordinary powers to quell the protest. The commission released a report one year after the protests that said the federal government was justified in using the law.
But a Federal Court judge later found the use of the law was unreasonable in a challenge launched by civil liberties groups. The government is currently appealing that decision.
Spratt said outside comments are not likely to change the judge's opinion on a possible sentence for Lich and Barber.
"This judge in particular is not going to make a decision one way or the other because Pierre Poilievre decided that he'd hop on social media and express his opinion."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Higgins: Locking Tamara Lich up for 7 years would be shameful retribution
The Crown is asking for a sentence that would throw the administration of justice into disrepute
It is to be hoped that the judge in the case of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, key organizers of the notorious Freedom Convoy, has more common sense and respect for justice than the prosecution, which seems intent on nothing more than revenge and retribution.
Whatever one’s view of the Freedom Convoy and its actions during a three-week period in early 2022, a prison sentence of seven years for Lich and eight years for Barber would throw the administration of justice into disrepute.
That the Crown is asking for these sentences is shameful and ignores some of the other issues in this country that is making Canadians doubt that the legal system is fair, balanced, impartial and beyond reproach.
Most of the prosecution case has been demolished. Lich was facing six charges and Barber seven for a variety of accusations including mischief, intimidation, counselling others to break the law, obstructing police and counselling others to obstruct police.
At the end of a 45-day trial the organizers of the convoy were both found guilty of mischief and Barber was also found guilty of counselling others to disobey a judge’s order to stop honking horns.
They were found not guilty of the majority of the charges and yet the Crown demands a penalty that is entirely unjustified.
This week they will be sentenced by Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey, but on the weekend Lich tweeted that the Crown was asking for seven years’ imprisonment for her and eight for Barber.
Their fate will be decided three years and five months after they were first arrested. An old adage says justice delayed is justice denied.
But it is interesting to note that in her April 3 judgment finding the pair guilty, the judge said she accepted that Lich and Barber came to Ottawa “with the noblest of intentions to simply protest their wish for the government and Prime Minister (at the time) Trudeau to end COVID mandate.”
Further, “The Crown agrees that the accused came to Ottawa to advance a noble cause and had the right to protest against COVID mandates, but argues they crossed the line with the means used to achieve their ends.”
The Freedom Convoy was certainly a nuisance. It caused inconvenience and hardship for citizens for some three weeks. The honking of horns was particularly annoying until stopped by a court order.
The judge said in her ruling, “Persons testified that the noise from the truck horns made it difficult for downtown residents to sleep and focus on work. Others testified that the egress from their buildings was blocked or that because of the streets being blocked that it was difficult or impossible to get to work and appointments. Generally, the central core of the city came to a standstill.
“The downtown residents who testified including persons and their families who lived in the downtown core, owners and employees of small businesses and other institutions such as churches suffered significant interferences in the use and enjoyment of their property and in their daily activities because of the protest.”
But the Freedom Convoy was not violent.
The line that Lich and Barber crossed is one written in sand, shifting, defined only after the fact by the courts and only after a contest between competing rights.
The judge said that there is a “delicate balance between law enforcement concerns for public safety and order and individual rights and freedoms on the other.”
There was “tension” between those rights, she said.
Perkins-McVey quoted a judge in another case who said, “in a free and democratic society such as Canada, we welcome and encourage people to hold demonstrations if such is necessary to exercise their right of freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and their right to freedom of association as guaranteed by section two of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
“However, society also expects demonstrators to exercise these rights to do so without violating the rights of others to move about freely or to engage in activities which they have a perfect legal right to do so.”
Here is the nub of the case. The judge had to balance the tension between Lich’s and Barber’s perfect right to protest with the rights of people to go about enjoying their daily lives.
“At the heart of the competing interests in this case lies the question to what extent does the exercise of the right to protest protects those from criminal liability when the rights of other citizens to enjoy their property have been impacted by their actions. Even Charter-protected rights are not absolute,” said the judge.
The defence argued the pair were “engaged in and encouraged a lawful and constitutionally protected peaceful protest.”
The judge has found them guilty, but clearly from her ruling there has been, and will be going forward, much more debate and cases involving protests and citizens’ rights.
Since October 7, 2023, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and other Canadian cities, have seen constant anti-Israel protests (along with demonstrations in support of the terror group Hamas) that have blocked streets, traffic, led to emergency vehicles being diverted, and caused much annoyance, nuisance, fear and alarm to citizens.
Yet they are continuing and more are planned.
Who decides that the rights of citizens have been impacted to such an extent that the protests are unlawful? The protesters won’t do it. As is the case with protests, they push boundaries until they cross lines they don’t see.
As for the citizens of Toronto, Montreal, et al, they aren’t being listened to.
Regularly blocking intersections and causing distress to citizens in downtown Toronto for 21 months doesn’t appear to be a crime. And yet honking horns and, yes, causing annoyance to the citizens of Ottawa for three weeks, is deemed worthy by the Crown of sending people to jail for seven and eight years.
Canadians will not see that as right, proper, balanced or fair.
What began in 2022 as a noble protest shouldn’t end in 2025 with a sordid persecution.
National Post
https://www.westernstandard.news/opinion/macleod-the-scales-of-justice-shattered/66257
MacLEOD: The scales of justice shattered
Sentencing hearings in the case of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are to be held in Ottawa, on Wednesday July 23-25.
Colin MacLeod is a Calgary-based aviation consultant, and author of 'The Case for Alberta's Independence.'
The conviction of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, pivotal figures in the 2022 Freedom Convoy, for the nebulous crime of “counselling mischief” is nothing short of a travesty, a glaring miscarriage of justice that reeks of political vendetta. The Crown’s audacious demand for seven- and eight-year prison sentences for these non-violent organizers — who, let’s be clear, worked daily with police to manage the protest and never incited violence — is an infuriating overreach.
To add insult to injury, former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s steadfast refusal to even meet with the convoy organizers throughout the protest, underscores the government’s contempt for dialogue with its own citizens. This is not justice; it’s a deliberate attempt to crush dissent and silence the voices of Western Canada.
From the perspective of the West, where the Freedom Convoy found much of its support, this case is a grotesque display of Ottawa’s elitism and disdain for ordinary Canadians. The convoy was a raw, unfiltered cry from people who felt ignored, marginalized, and steamrolled by draconian government policies. Lich and Barber, far from being criminals, were amplifying the frustrations of countless citizens who saw their livelihoods and freedoms eroded.The fact that they cooperated with law enforcement daily — working to keep the protest as orderly as possible — only deepens the outrage. To slap them with a mischief conviction and then demand prison terms that rival those for violent offenders is not just disproportionate; it’s a deliberate message to anyone daring to challenge the Trudeau government: speak out, and we will bury you.
Seven or eight years behind bars for organizing a protest? This is the kind of punishment you’d expect in an authoritarian regime, not a democracy.
Even when viewed from Ottawa’s perspective, the Crown’s sentencing request is indefensible. Yes, the convoy disrupted the capital. Residents and businesses faced weeks of inconvenience, noise, and frustration — an undeniable hardship.
But to pin the entirety of that disruption on Lich and Barber, who neither committed nor encouraged violence, is a lazy caricature of accountability. Their daily coordination with police demonstrates a clear intent to manage the protest responsibly, not to unleash chaos. Ottawa’s narrative of being “under siege” conveniently ignores this cooperation, as well as Trudeau’s refusal to engage with the organizers in any meaningful way.
Instead of dialogue, the government chose escalation, invoking the Emergencies Act and now pushing for draconian sentences.
Even those who sympathize with Ottawa’s frustrations must question whether a near-decade in prison for non-violent protest leadership is justice or just petty revenge.
The mischief conviction itself is a flimsy pretext, a legal sleight-of-hand designed to criminalize protest. Counselling mischief? The term feels like a catch-all, a vague cudgel to punish those who dared to disrupt the government’s carefully curated narrative.
Lich and Barber’s cooperation with police directly contradicts the idea that they were orchestrating chaos. Yet the Crown, emboldened by Trudeau’s refusal to even sit at the table with the convoy, is now demanding sentences that would see these organizers locked away for years — years! — for exercising their right to protest.
This is not about accountability; it’s about sending a chilling message to every Canadian who might consider raising their voice against the state.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s refusal to meet with Lich, Barber, or any convoy representatives during the protest is the rotten core of this saga. Instead of engaging with the concerns of thousands of Canadians, he dismissed them as a “fringe minority” and hid behind his security detail. This refusal to even entertain dialogue fuelled the convoy’s resolve and now casts a long shadow over the Crown’s sentencing demands. It’s hard to see this as anything but a government punishing those it refused to hear, using the courts as a bludgeon to enforce compliance.
The Crown’s request for seven- and eight-year sentences for Tamara Lich and Chris Barber is an outrage, a grotesque overreach that mocks the principles of fairness and proportionality. That they face such punishment despite their non-violent leadership and active cooperation with police is a damning indictment of a justice system weaponized against dissent.
Trudeau’s refusal to meet with them only deepens
the sense of betrayal, confirming the government’s utter disregard for
the voices it claims to represent. This case will not fade quietly — it
will galvanize those who already see Ottawa as out of touch and
vindictive.
The scales of justice are not just uneven; they’ve been smashed to pieces. Whether the court endorses this shameful sentencing request remains to be seen, but the very fact that it’s on the table is a stain on Canadian democracy.
Colin MacLeod is a Calgary-based writer.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/albertaseparatism/posts/2446138685722219/
There is more than one Colin MacLeod in Alberta
https://www.blueline.ca/qa-with-colin-macleod-retired-rcmp-pilot-5504/
Features
Q&A
Q&A with Colin MacLeod, retired RCMP pilot
Colin MacLeod spent over 20 years in the RCMP as a
pilot, flying fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters on nail-biting
missions through Newfoundland snow, the peaks and saddles of the Rocky
Mountains and beyond. Also a former Edmonton Police officer, MacLeod
shares his stories from the cockpit at a time when policing by air was
still quite the novelty.
June 5, 2018
By Renée Francoeur
Q: How did you begin your career in law enforcement?
I
started with EPS (Edmonton Police Service) in 1973 when I was only
20-years old and looking for a job. At 20 you don’t know much about the
world but I stayed there for five years, grew up a bit and learned lots.
After having a taste of recreational flying — and an actual flight in an operational RCMP helicopter out of Fort McMurray, Alta. — I knew my days as a general duty policeman were numbered.
The RCMP has a storied history in aviation and was the only police organization at the time to operate helicopters —they had a fleet of about half a dozen. They required 1,000 hours of experience before they would consider you. So in 1978 my wife Wendy and I moved temporarily to Victoria, B.C., and I started training with a little school called Transwest Helicopter School.
Q: Where did the interest in flying stem from?
My
father was in the air force; I grew up on airports with old yellow
Harvards flying around all the time. So aviation has always been a part
of my life and when I started police work, helicopters in policing was a
concept just starting to emerge. In a big city like Edmonton, we really
could have used one back in those days… I thought it would be an
interesting field to get into, combining both of my interests.
Q: What was it like starting with the RCMP in 1981?
At
the time I was flying for a commercial operator, Shirley Air Services,
out of Edson, Alta., and getting close to the magical 1,000-hour mark.
That’s when the RCMP called.
The force had previously chosen its pilots from within its ranks, who were all regular ranked members, but just before my joining they had gone through reorganization, changing the pilot positions to the rank of special constable.
Some of the current pilots had chosen to convert to special constable status, with its subsequent rise in pay. Others decided to remain in the regular rank structure, as they were senior non-commissioned officers.
In my case, the force had no experienced helicopter pilots to draw from and was forced to go outside to hire a civilian. I came on as a civilian helicopter pilot, classified as a special constable. There were grumblings but I stayed out of it.
I first reported to Victoria, B.C., where the force operated a Beech King Air 200 and a Bell 206B Jet Ranger helicopter, C-GMPI.
Q: What was your most memorable moment as an RCMP pilot?
There
are so many — I couldn’t even begin to pick one… One that comes to mind
right now was a mine explosion in Yellowknife. We were sitting at
25,000 feet in the air and the northern lights put on quite the show for
us. It was just absolutely extravagant.
Some of more memorable things are being in a position to help members in the street and making their day easier. That was the most satisfactory part of the job.
Q: Was anything about the job routine?
The RCMP
was different than urban policing nowadays. One of my routine things was
the constant repairing, adding and maintaining of mountaintop radio
repeater sites for communication with the dispatch centres. We did a lot
of that in the mountains and mountain flying is a completely different
set of skills. We were just at the cusp of introducing infrared cameras
and searchlights; we did that where we could. This was all before GPS,
remember, so we did so many search-and-rescue missions, too.
Q: Helicopter safety has been thoroughly debated over the
years. Do you have any accounts of accidents or close calls that
directly impacted you?
When I found my friend and fellow
pilot Wayne Meyers after he had hit a cable in a valley in B.C. The
cable had ripped the top off the helicopter. He and another fellow by
the name of Frank Jones died right there. It was traumatic. I flew down
over the same valley and I just happened to be at a different altitude
than he was. I never did see the cable he hit. It took me a long time to
get over that.
Another time we were helping the highway patrol in Banff and the engine of my DXC went. I had to commit to a full-on autorotation.
With about 400 feet of altitude left, my turn towards the highway had lined me up pretty well but I didn’t have time to look for vehicles behind me. We skidded along on the pavement for about 100 feet, but I had directional control and the impact was minimal. Thank goodness for being within reach of the highway. There were not a lot of other clearings along this stretch and the only other choice I had would have been the Bow River or the trees. Either would have been disastrous. It certainly woke me up.
Q: How did the RCMP aviation services change during your career?
When
I first started, I remember flying over northern Saskatchewan and how
it all looked the same; we didn’t have a clue where we were half the
time — just a compass. Today, you know exactly where you are thanks to
sophisticated navigation.
The technological changes in the machines themselves have been amazing. Each generation gets a little more powerful, smoother, faster, cheaper to run. It’s phenomenal growth.
Internally within the RCMP, I still don’t believe they have the civilianization process figured out. They bounce that back and forth and it causes a lot of turmoil and frustration. So the HR function requires improvement.
Q: What is your advice for others in law enforcement dreaming of a career in aviation?
It’s
difficult and it’s competitive. Identify exactly what you want to do
and get the qualifications. Develop a plan on how to meet all those
qualifications and make sure the decision makers in the organization
know about it. Plus, it’s expensive, so you should establish a financing
plan.
Q: You retired from the RCMP in 2001 and sold your charter company in 2016. What’s life like after flying?
I
definitely miss it. I haven’t flown in a couple years now. I’m enjoying
being a grandpa and travelling. I’ve written a book about all the
adventures and just released that on Amazon at the end of March of this
year. It’s been valuable to my friends and family; it also serves as a
way to pay tribute to the friends and colleagues we lost, like Wayne… I
think any police officer would get a chuckle out of it. And it’s all
true.
Find MacLeod’s personal account from his time in the law enforcement cockpit here on Amazon: amzn.to/2wB11bk.
My Canadian Adventure – Life as a Pilot with the RCMP
My Canadian Adventure – Life as a Pilot with the RCMP
New release – A Canadian Aviation Autobiography by Colin MacLeod
Colin
was born on a Canadian Military Base in 1953, a prairie boy. At the
ripe old age of 20 years, he began his career with the Edmonton Police
Department. Quickly determining that for him, it was likely better to
work with machines than people, he started his helicopter license in
1978.
Joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a helicopter pilot in 1981, he travelled into every province, was personally involved with many of the significant events of that time, and flew a variety of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft throughout his 20-year career.
His first book, “My Canadian Adventure” is from a pilot’s point of view and chronicles those years in the RCMP from 1981 to 2001. Told from the perspective of the cockpit, with humour and compassion, this story details mountain rescues, mass murders, tragic accidents, body hunts, native uprisings, drug busts, family trauma, and much, much more. A very personal story, this book is an intriguing, interesting read, providing a unique point of view on this period in Canada’s history.
It is available on Amazon.ca here and is getting excellent reviews. For example, here is what Larry Milberry, publisher and President of Canav Books had to say about “My Canadian Adventure:”
“I’ve had a flip through and this is an A-1 aviation memoir. The sort of book I’m always looking for. I understand the e-book, it has its place, but I’m a diehard paper guy. This is really well written, a smooth style, fact-based, all the people and places covered, all the dates. Actual aviation history. All the photos fit in, just a gem of an effort.”
Click here to get your copy “My Canadian Adventure“
Posted: April 3, 2018
https://swiftcurrentonline.com/articles/barber-sentencing-hearing-starting-july-23
Barber sentencing hearing starting July 23
A sentencing hearing for Stewart Valley's Chris Barber will start on July 23rd.
The judge denied Barber's stay of proceedings application.
He and fellow “Freedom Convoy” organizer Tamara Lich were found guilty
of counselling others to commit mischief for their roles in the 2022
mass protest in Ottawa.
Barber was additionally found guilty of counselling others to disobey a
court order for suggesting people ignore an injunction issued by a judge
directing convoy participants to stop honking their truck horns.
The pair were found not guilty of four additional charges, including intimidation and counseling people to break the law.
"We received the Crowns (sic) materials," Lich said on X. "Including a 1,040-page book of authorities they will be referencing in order to convince the judge Chris and I should be sent to a penitentiary for two years for mischief and seize and destroy his truck."
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