Latest news with #mischief
CTV News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Crown to respond at sentencing hearing for ‘Freedom Convoy' leaders Lich, Barber
Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich is seen outside the courthouse in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA — The sentencing hearing for 'Freedom Convoy' leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber continues in Ottawa today, months after the two were found guilty of mischief. Lich's lawyer Lawrence Greenspon is expected to deliver sentencing submissions during this morning's hearing. A Crown prosecutor is expected to respond to defence submissions before the judge begins her deliberations. The Crown is seeking a prison sentence of seven years for Lich and eight years for Barber, who was also found guilty of counselling others to disobey a court order. Barber's lawyer Diane Magas said she wants an absolute discharge for her client because he has been on bail for the last three and a half years without incident. Lich and Barber were both found guilty of mischief in April for their key roles in the convoy protest, which saw activists fill much of downtown Ottawa for three weeks beginning in late January 2022 to protest vaccine mandates and other pandemic measures. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Crown seeks up to 8 years in prison for mischief for 'Freedom Convoy' organizers
The sentencing hearing for 'Freedom Convoy' leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber has started in Ottawa, months after the two were found guilty of mischief. The Crown is seeking a prison sentence of seven years for Lich and eight years for Barber, who also was convicted of counselling others to disobey a court order. Amandalina Letterio reports.
CBC
a day ago
- Politics
- CBC
Crown seeking 8 years for convoy leader Chris Barber, 7 for Tamara Lich
Social Sharing The Crown says it's seeking an extraordinary sentence for an unprecedented crime, as court began hearing sentencing submissions Wednesday in the mischief case of Ottawa truck convoy leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber. Crown prosecutor Siobhain Wetscher asked Justice Heather Perkins-McVey to impose a prison sentence of seven years for Lich and eight years for Barber. But Barber's lawyer called that "cruel and unusual punishment." Instead, she argued her client should walk free with an absolute discharge. Barber was found guilty in April of mischief and counselling others to disobey a court order, while Lich was convicted of mischief alone. Wetscher admitted the sentences she's asking for are at the upper end of the range — the Criminal Code sets a maximum of 10 years for mischief — but she argued that they're justified. "It's not a sentence that is being sought lightly, but one that the Crown believes is proportional," Wetscher said. Wetscher said the pair played prominent leadership roles in the weeks-long occupation that took over downtown Ottawa for more than three weeks in early 2022. She said the Crown isn't seeking to punish them for their political beliefs, but for crossing the line into "sustained criminality" that paralyzed the city and flouted the law. "The Crown acknowledges that it's seeking an extraordinary sentence in this case," she said. "However, Mr. Barber and Ms. Lich are criminally responsible for extraordinary harm and profound impact to the public." She quoted from witness impact statements from residents and business owners who endured the protest, leaving them with hefty financial losses and lasting psychological scars. "It's difficult to imagine an offence of mischief with greater impact," Wetscher said. 8 years an 'abusive' sentence: Barber's lawyer But Barber's lawyer Diane Magus argued that examples of such offences are easy to find. She came armed with precedents, citing serious mischief cases that resulted in sentences far more lenient than what the Crown is seeking for Lich and Barber. She mentioned Pat King, who was convicted for his role in the same protest but received a three-month conditional sentence, plus nine-months' credit for time served. Wetscher argued that King was a less influential figure among the Ottawa protesters compared to Lich and Barber. But Magus cited still other cases. She brought up the "Black Bloc" protesters at the 2010 G20 summit in Toronto. They caused extensive property damage, including upending police cars and smashing storefronts, but received comparatively light sentences of under two years. Magus said the fear and intimidation those protesters caused was "much more severe than in this case." She said her client should get an absolute discharge, which would allow him to walk free without any jail term or criminal record. "The sentence sought was excessive, abusive and would amount to cruel and unusual punishment," she said of the Crown submission. At the very least, she said Barber should be able to serve a conditional sentence in the community, not in prison. Magus quoted from character letters that described Barber as a pillar of his community in Swift Current, Sask., a responsible business owner with strong family ties. She said a criminal record will mean a big hit to his trucking business, since it will make it difficult for him to cross the border into the United States. She said there are also mitigating factors in how Barber handled the protest, such as his willingness to work with police to move some trucks from residential areas to Wellington Street. Perkins-McVey agreed that was a mitigating factor, though she noted that it only limited the protest, without ending it.
National Post
a day ago
- Politics
- National Post
Who are Freedom Convoy protest leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, found guilty on mischief charges?
On Wednesday a sentencing hearing began for Freedom Convoy protest leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, after the two were found guilty of mischief. Here's what to know about them, and what happens next. Article content Who are Tamara Lich and Chris Barber? Article content Article content Lich and Barber were key figures behind the convoy protest, sometimes referred to as the Freedom Convoy, that occupied downtown Ottawa for three weeks beginning in late January 2022. The protests followed the end of vaccine mandate exemptions for cross-border truckers. Protesters called for the repeal of all COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Both are from Saskatchewan. Lich had previously been involved with Canada's Yellow Vest protests in Medicine Hat, Alta., and elsewhere, and the United We Roll truckers convoy and protest in Ottawa in 2019, which was in favour of pipelines and against carbon taxes. Barber is a trucker and owns his own company, CB Trucking Limited, based in Swift Current, Sask. Article content When were they arrested? Article content Article content Lich and Barber were arrested in Ottawa on Feb. 17, 2022, shortly after the government of Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time ever, bringing an end to the protest. (Last year, a Federal Court judge ruled that the response was unconstitutional and unjustifiable.) The convoy was cleared out of Ottawa's downtown core in a three-day police operation that began on Feb. 18. Article content At first, Lich was charged with counselling to commit mischief, and Barber with counselling to commit mischief, counselling to disobey a court order, counselling to obstruct police, and mischief that interferes with the use and enjoyment of property. Article content However, a month after their arrest the Crown submitted a relaid information sheet from Ottawa police, and the two were jointly accused of mischief, counselling mischief, obstructing police, counselling to obstruct police, counselling intimidation, and intimidation by blocking and obstructing one or more highways. Article content Article content Were they found guilty? Article content Article content On April 3, 2025, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey found both Lich and Barber guilty of mischief because the court ruled they routinely encouraged people to join or remain at the protest, despite knowing the negative effects it was having on downtown residents and businesses. Article content Barber also was found guilty of counselling others to disobey a court order for telling people to ignore a judge's injunction directing convoy participants to stop honking their truck horns. (Lich was not charged with that offence.) Article content They were both acquitted of intimidation and counselling intimidation, with the judge noting that their repeated calls to remain peaceful meant there was no menace or violence intended. They were also acquitted of obstructing police and counselling to obstruct police. Article content The Crown is seeking a prison sentence of seven years for Lich and eight years for Barber. Two days have been set aside for the parties to present their sentencing submissions. Article content What did Pierre Poilievre say about this? Article content Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has posted and shared several posts on social media criticizing the Crown's sentencing proposals. In one post on X on Monday he said: 'Let's get this straight: while rampant violent offenders are released hours after their most recent charges & antisemitic rioters vandalize businesses, terrorize daycares & block traffic without consequences, the Crown wants 7 years prison time for the charge of mischief for Lich & Barber. How is this justice?'
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Sentencing begins for two ‘Freedom Convoy' leaders months after they were found guilty of mischief
Sentencing begins for two 'Freedom Convoy' leaders months after they were found guilty of mischief Sentencing begins for two 'Freedom Convoy' leaders months after they were found guilty of mischief.
