COVID-19
Chris Barber will not see prison time for his role in peaceful Freedom Convoy
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.
From LifeSiteNews
The Crown’s appeal claims the judge made a mistake in her verdict on the intimidation charges, and also in how she treated aggravating and mitigating factors regarding sentencing.
Government lawyers for the Crown have filed an appeal the acquittals of Freedom Convoy leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber on intimidation charges.
The Crown also wants their recent 18-month conditional sentence on mischief charges replaced with harsher penalties, which could include possible jail time.
According to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), it is “asking the Ontario Court of Appeal to enter a conviction on the intimidation charge or order a new trial on that count,” for Barber’s charges.
Specifically, the Crown’s appeal claims that the judge made a mistake in her verdict on the intimidation charges, and also in how she treated aggravating and mitigating factors regarding sentencing.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, both Lich and Barber have filed appeals of their own against their house arrest sentences, arguing that the trial judge did not correctly apply the law on their mischief charges.
Barber’s lawyer, Diane Magas, said that her client “relied in good faith on police and court direction during the protest. The principles of fairness and justice require that citizens not be punished for following the advice of authorities. We look forward to presenting our arguments before the Court.”
On October 7, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey sentenced Lich and Chris Barber to 18 months’ house arrest after being convicted earlier in the year of “mischief.”
Lich was given 18 months less time already spent in custody, amounting to 15 1/2 months.
Lich and Barber were declared guilty of mischief for their roles as leaders of the protest against COVID mandates in April 2022, and as social media influencers. The conviction came after a nearly two-year trial despite the non-violent nature of the popular movement.
The Lich and Barber trial concluded in September 2024, more than a year after it began. It was originally scheduled to last 16 days.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, the Canadian government was hoping to put Lich in jail for no less than seven years and Barber for eight years.
LifeSiteNews recently reported that Lich detailed her restrictive house arrest conditions, revealing she is “not” able to leave her house or even pick up her grandchildren from school without permission from the state.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich, reflecting on her recent house arrest verdict, said she has no “remorse” and will not “apologize” for leading a movement that demanded an end to all COVID mandates.
From LifeSiteNews
Lawyers will argue that there is no evidence linking Tamara Lich ‘to the misdeeds of others.’
Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Lich said she will appeal her recent mischief conviction in an Ontario court, with her lawyers saying “there was no evidence linking her to the misdeeds of others.”
In a press release late yesterday, Lich’s legal team, headed by Lawrence Greenspon, Eric Granger, and Hannah Drennan, made the announcement.
“Lawyers for Tamara Lich filed Notice of Appeal in the Ontario Court of Appeal of the conviction for mischief arising out of the Freedom Convoy,” the release stated.
Lich’s legal team noted that there are two reasons for the principal grounds of appeal.
“While there was substantial evidence that Tamara encouraged the protesters to be peaceful, lawful and safe, there was no evidence linking her to the misdeeds of others,” they said.
The second reason for the appeal, according to Lich’s lawyers, is that the “trial judge failed to give effect to the principle that communication that would otherwise be mischief is protected by section 2(b) of the Charter, freedom of expression.”
On October 7, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey sentenced Lich and Chris Barber to 18 months’ house arrest after being convicted earlier in the year of “mischief.”
Lich was given 18 months less time already spent in custody, amounting to 15 1/2 months.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, the Canadian government was hoping to put Lich in jail for no less than seven years and Barber for eight years for their roles in the 2022 protests against COVID mandates.
Interestingly, Perkins-McVey said about Lich and Barber during the sentencing, “They came with the noblest of intent and did not advocate for violence.”
As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich, reflecting on her recent sentencing of over a year’s house arrest for her role in the 2022 Freedom Convoy, laid bare the fact that when all is said in done, seven years of her life will have been spent in a government-imposed “lockdown” in one form or another.
LifeSiteNews recently reported that Lich detailed her restrictive house arrest conditions, revealing she is “not” able to leave her house or even pick up her grandkids from school without permission from the state.
As reported by LifeSiteNews, Lich, reflecting on her recent house arrest verdict, said she has no “remorse” and will not “apologize” for leading a movement that demanded an end to all COVID mandates.
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