From LifeSiteNews

By Clare Marie Merkowsky

Conservative MP Jeremy Patzer condemned the 25-month-long trial of Freedom Convoy leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber as ‘political persecution’ for making Justin Trudeau ‘look bad.’

Conservative Member of Parliament Jeremy Patzer has condemned the Freedom Convoy leaders’ trial as “political persecution.”

In an October 7 post on X, Patzer reacted to the sentencing of Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, noting that while the two avoided jail time, the Liberal government dragged them through years of legal battles as its own form of punishment.

“Glad to hear that jail time was averted, although this sentencing is still a reach,” he commented. “This case was nothing more than political persecution. Chris and Tamara created a situation that made Justin Trudeau look bad, and they paid the price.”

Glad to hear that jail time was averted, although this sentencing is still a reach.

This case was nothing more than political persecution. Chris and Tamara created a situation that made Justin Trudeau look bad, and they paid the price.

As of early June, the federal government… pic.twitter.com/1decbyrjYz

— Jeremy Patzer (@jeremy_patzer) October 7, 2025

Legal battles for Barber and Lich, organizers of the 2022 Freedom Convoy which protested COVID mandates, began in September 2023. The trial spanned 45 days of hearings over about 13 months, ending September 2024.

In April 2025, the pair were found guilty of “mischief.” Then began the three-month-long sentencing process from July 2025 to October 2025. Yesterday, Barber and Lich were sentenced to 18 months of house arrest, along with a curfew and 100 hours of community service.

In total, their legal process lasted over 25 months and cost Canadian taxpayers over $21 million dollars.

Patzer argued that “whether or not you agreed with Chris and Tamara, this is wrong. There is no excuse for these proceedings to have been dragged out this long over mischief.”

Indeed, while they did not receive jail time, Barber and Lich’s lengthy legal battles may discourage other Canadians from publicly opposing the Liberal government. Patzer argued that this is just what Liberals intended.

“When the government takes you to court, it is the process, not the penalty, that breaks you,” he said. “The goal of this whole farce was to break Chris and Tamara with the full institutional weight of the Crown because of Justin Trudeau’s political emergency.”

Despite the peaceful nature of the Freedom Convoy, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act (EA) to clear out protesters, an action a federal judge has since said was “not justified.” During the clear-out, an elderly lady was trampled by a police horse, and many who donated to the cause had their bank accounts frozen.

As reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, a federal audit did not mention the false claims the government made against the Freedom Convoy, which were used to allow Trudeau to impose the EA to clear out the protesters.

Indeed, in 2023, as reported by LifeSiteNews, disclosed records showed that Canada’s Department of Public Safety fabricated a security bulletin that claimed the Freedom Convoy protesters had plundered federal office buildings in an apparent attempt to discredit the movement.

Despite enduring years of legal battles, Lich’s comments on social media have revealed that her spirit is far from broken.

“Thy will, not my will, be done,” she wrote in an October 7 post on X, before receiving her sentencing. “Trust His plan.”

“No matter what happens today, as Chris Barber told the truckers over the cb radio on our trip out a few years ago, ‘We’ve already won, guys,’” she continued.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that the Ontario Court of Justice has handed Saskatchewan trucker and peaceful Freedom Convoy protester Chris Barber an 18-month conditional sentence and 100 hours of community service. 

The sentence will be served in his community. The Crown sought an extraordinarily harsh eight-year prison sentence for Mr. Barber, despite his entirely peaceful participation in the 2022 Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa.

In today’s sentencing hearing, Justice Perkins-McVey stated that Mr. Barber “came with the noblest of intent and did not advocate for violence.” 

Justice Perkins-McVey went on to emphasize the peaceful nature of the 2022 Freedom Convoy, describing it as a “non-violent protest, no property damage, no intent to harm critical infrastructure.” She noted that Mr. Barber moved his own truck and encouraged others to do the same, consistently promoting peaceful cooperation  with law enforcement. “The Court recognized Mr. Barber’s peaceful conduct and cooperation with police throughout the Freedom Convoy,” stated constitutional lawyer Diane Magas.  

Under the terms of the conditional sentence, Mr. Barber must remain on his property during the first 12 months of his sentence except for employment or travel related to legal, medical, or dental appointments, or religious services.  

The Justice Centre has funded the legal defence of Mr. Barber since 2022, maintaining that he peacefully exercised his Charter freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly when he joined thousands of Canadians in Ottawa to protest government-imposed vaccine mandates. 

Justice Centre President, John Carpay, reflected on the verdict with concern: “Chris Barber and Tamara Lich should not have been convicted of criminal mischief in the first place. Not only was their cause noble, calling upon Ottawa to recognize the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Canadians during this country’s darkest chapter, but Chris and Tamara pursued their cause in a peaceful, cooperative, and respectful manner.” 

“Rarely are protests of that magnitude so peaceful. And yet today, after undergoing the longest mischief trial in the history of Canada, with predictable negative impacts on their health, finances, and families, Justice Heather Perkins-McVey still chose to hand Chris an 18-month conditional sentence, to be served in his community, 100 hours of community service, and a curfew order,” he added. 

“Fortunately, Justice Perkins-McVey did not accept the absurd recommendation of Crown Prosecutors to jail Chris for eight years and to jail Tamara for seven years. However, this sentence still goes too far, sending a chilling message to Canadians who freely exercise their Charter freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.” 

“I thank every Canadian who stood with us in defence of Chris Barber and Tamara Lich these many years. Today’s outcome would certainly have been worse if generous donors had not provided these brave Canadians with the best possible legal defence.”

Ms. Magas continues to represent Mr. Barber in a separate proceeding opposing the Crown’s attempt to seize his 2004 Kenworth truck, “Big Red,” which remains the Barber family’s primary source of income. 

Those wishing to help cover the cost of Mr. Barber’s legal defence are encouraged to make a tax-deductible donation at www.jccf.ca.