Lich appeared virtually on May 19 in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, where lawyers wrangled over how the bail hearing should proceed.
A violation of any bail conditions can result in a fine, imprisonment, or both, according to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, a legal advocacy group that is representing several convoy leaders in court.
“Ms. Lich inspired Canadians to exercise their Charter rights and freedoms by participating actively in the democratic process, and took the initiative to help organize a peaceful protest and serve as one of its leaders.”
The website, which noted Lich was “unjustly jailed” for 18 days, said Lich would attend the award dinner in Toronto on June 16 if a review of her bail conditions would allow her to attend, as well as attend events in Vancouver and Calgary.
“We recognize that Canada’s legal system is founded on a principle of innocent until proven guilty. While Ms. Lich’s bail conditions prohibit her from entering Ontario, these are under appeal and the outcome of the appeal is pending,” the website said.
Lich told the court she learned she won the award for her leadership role in the protest in an email on March 28, and responded that she'd be honoured to accept.
Lich’s testimony didn’t sit well with Crown counsel Moiz Karimjee who accused her of breaching the bail conditions.
“You were supporting something related to the Freedom Convoy,” Karimjee said as Lich appeared by video conference.
“Yeah, I guess so,” Lich replied, but said she didn’t feel it was a breach of her conditions.
“I don’t feel like that’s what the recognition is for. I feel that the recognition is for inspiring Canadians to hold the government to account to the rule of law and to uphold their Charter rights.”
She also told the court “there is no convoy anymore.”
In the notice of application, the Crown concluded that “Tamara Lich ought to be detained.”
Ottawa Sgt. Mahad Hassan told the court Lich wasn’t arrested for the alleged breach, even though police felt they had the grounds to do so after a conversation with the Crown on May 3.
The police and the Crown decided to deal with the issue at the scheduled bail review hearing instead.
Lich’s lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, challenged the idea that the awards gala was connected with the protest. He pointed out that the event doesn’t appear to be a fundraiser for the protest movement.
Greenspon also argued that Lich’s bail conditions are too restrictive and should be reconsidered. He told the court that the social media ban imposed on his client was unnecessarily broad and has had a huge impact on her life while.
He said she wishes to be in contact with her 94-year-old grandmother through social media and communicate with her friends and family.
The hearing is expected to last two days.
