Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich didn’t breach her bail terms for agreeing to attend an award ceremony in her honour and thus won’t return to jail, an Ontario judge has ruled.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Kevin Phillips said on May 25 that his decision was based on how well Lich’s surety has supervised her, that she has followed her bail conditions, and her low risk of reoffence after she has had “a taste of jail.”
Phillips said he does not accept the Crown’s argument that Lich breached her release conditions by agreeing to receive the award, adding that Lich can be trusted to respect the conditions of her release.
The terms of Lich’s release were intended to prevent a similar protest from happening in the national capital, the judge said, adding the court does not seek to control people’s political views.
“The courts are not a thought police. We seek only to control conduct to the extent that certain behaviour will violate or likely lead to violation of the law,'' Phillips said.
He also said the protest is over and the trucker convoys have left Ottawa, and that it would be “practically impossible” to mount a similar protest in the city again.
The convoy quickly expanded into a national movement with several protests and border blockades held across the country in solidarity with the three-week-long demonstration at the national capital.
Violation of a bail condition can result in a fine, imprisonment, or both, according to JCCF, which represents several other convoy leaders in court. Lich’s bail conditions also prohibit her from setting foot in Ontario.
Lich is currently appealing her bail terms, which also prohibit her from contacting fellow convoy organizers and from using social media or having someone do so on her behalf. Lich’s lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, said last week her bail conditions should be loosened to allow her to come to Ontario and use social media.
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