Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Lich will not return to prison, a judge has ruled after a Crown prosecutor argued in court that she violated her conditions of release.
In his two-day bail review last week, the organizer of the Ottawa protest that stopped the city for weeks called for an amendment to the terms of his release to allow him to visit Ontario, and Ottawa, specifically , and use social media. media.
Meanwhile, the Crown argued that Lich should be back in custody for allegedly violating his bail condition for not supporting anything related to the convoy and staying out of social media.
On Wednesday, Judge Kevin Phillips ruled that he would change Lich’s bail to allow her to come to Ontario, but restrict her from entering downtown Ottawa.
The reason Lich wants to visit Ottawa is subject to a ban on publication by court order and cannot be disclosed.
Phillips turned down a request from Lich’s defense attorney, Lawrence Greenspon, to allow her to return to social media. He told the court that Lich was old enough to have lived in a time without social media and that he could continue to keep in touch with people through other means, such as texting.
Tamara Lich is receiving an award from the Center for Constitutional Freedom Justice for her work in helping organize the Freedom Convoy protest that took to the streets of downtown Ottawa for weeks earlier this year. (jccf.ca)
Accept the prize, wear Freedom Convoy jewelry without breaking the deposit
During his bail review, Lich stated that he would “love to attend” an event in Toronto in June to accept a freedom award, “although I will not violate my bail conditions to do so.”
On March 28, a charity called the Center for Justice for Constitutional Freedoms sent an email to Lich informing him that she had been selected for the 2022 George Jonas Award for Freedom, he told the court.
The email, which he read aloud, said the honor was given “in recognition of your leadership role in the Freedom Convoy.”
The award’s announcement on the center’s website states that Lich “took the initiative to help organize a peaceful protest and serve as one of its leaders. The resulting peaceful protest in Ottawa aroused many Canadians to the injustice of the blockades that violated the Charter and mandatory vaccination policies. “
He also states that “he suffered for the cause of freedom by spending 18 days in prison unjustly, and exemplifies courage, determination and perseverance.”
The day after receiving the email, Lich again told her she was “honored” to accept. She did not ask if she would be okay, she testified under questioning by Karimjee.
When asked if accepting the award supported something related to the convoy, Lich said, “I guess so. I guess so.
“I don’t think that’s a breach. I don’t think that’s why the recognition … I think the recognition is to inspire Canadians to hold the government accountable to the rule of law and to defend their rights under the Charter.” it continued.
There is no connection between the prize and the convoy, the judge ruled
Phillips told the court he accepted Lich’s evidence that there was no connection between the convoy and receiving the award. He agreed that the Freedom Convoy was over and that it would be “virtually impossible” to organize a similar protest in the city.
He also said that Lich is not responsible for what other people post online, rejecting a Crown presentation that had also violated his ban on social media by taking a picture with a pendant with the image of a truck and the words “Freedom” and “Canada”. stamped on it.
Lich sent the photo to the supporter who had given him the pendant, who then posted it on social media.
Phillips also said Lich is not responsible for the actions of the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms and said “there is significant uncertainty” as to the extent to which Lich will be guilty of his involvement with Freedom Convoy in general. .