Crown prosecutors say Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich has breached her bail conditions by agreeing to attend a ceremony to receive a “Freedom Award” next month, and that she should be sent back to jail to await trial.
On Feb. 17, 2022, Lich was
arrested and charged with counselling to commit mischief for her role in organizing the three-week Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa. The arrest came after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
declared a state of emergency on Feb 14, giving the police additional powers to remove protesters and vehicles parked at the national capital in a demonstration against federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions.
Lich was released on March 7
on several bail conditions, including avoiding contact with fellow convoy organizers and refraining from using social media or having someone do so on her behalf. She is not allowed to “engage in organization or promotion of anti-COVID 19 mandate activities and Freedom Convoy activities” or express support for any such events through any means. The violation of a bail condition can result in a fine, imprisonment, or both, according to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom (JCCF), which represents several convoy leaders in court.
Lich has been selected to receive the JCCF’s 2022
George Jonas Freedom Award, with an award ceremony set to take place in Toronto on June 16, 2022. Two other galas will also be held in Vancouver and Calgary later in the summer.
However, her bail conditions, which she is appealing, prohibit her from entering Ontario.
In an application filed in advance of Lich’s bail review hearing, the Crown said she has violated her bail conditions stipulating that she not express support for any activities in relation to the Freedom Convoy.
“Tamara Lich has continued her support of the Convoy cause with the assistance of Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms,” says the Crown application obtained by
CTV News.
The Crown also alleges that the JCCF, a registered legal charity, has a “collaborative and representative” relationship with Lich, citing the organization’s lawyer Keith Wilson, who identified her as his client on one occasion.
The Crown also said Ontario Superior Court Justice Hon. John M. Johnston, who granted Lich bail, made several errors of law, and asked that his decision be overturned and for Lich to be sent back to jail.
The application will be heard in an Ottawa court on May 19 and May 20.
Prior to her release on bail on March 7, Lich had spent 18 days in prison. She was previously denied bail on Feb. 22 by Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois, who ran as a federal Liberal candidate in the 2011 election.
