(L–R) JCCF Lawyer Keith Wilson and Freedom Convoy organizers Chris Barber and Tamara Lich hold a press conference in Ottawa on Feb. 3, 2022. (Gerry Smith/NTD)
Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich has hired prominent criminal lawyer Lawrence Greenspon as her legal representation.
Lich was arrested on Feb. 17 and charged with counselling to commit mischief for her role in the Ottawa protests against federal COVID-19 mandates earlier this year. She was released on bail 18 days later.
In addition to the original charge, Lich and a co-organizer of the Freedom Convoy, Chris Barber, faced new charges on March 24. Both are now charged with mischief, counselling mischief, obstructing police, counselling to obstruct police, counselling intimidation, and intimidation by blockading one or more highways.
The blockades of several Canada-U.S. border crossings were held in solidarity with Freedom Convoy protestors in Ottawa, which arrived in the nation’s capital on Jan. 29 to demonstrate against mandatory federal vaccination requirements for all cross-border truck drivers.
On Feb. 22, Lich was initially denied bail by Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois who said her detention was “necessary for the protection and safety of the public.” Lich’s lawyer at the time, Diane Magas, launched a bail review, arguing that the decision may have been tainted by the fact that Bourgeois ran as a federal Liberal candidate in the 2011 election.
Magas has been representing both Barber and Lich but is now just representing Barber.
On March 7, Lich was released on bail with a $25,000 bond following a decision from Ontario Superior Court Justice Hon. John M. Johnston. She must also follow other bail conditions, including avoiding all contact with fellow convoy organizers and refraining from using social media or having someone do so on her behalf.
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom (JCCF), which represents several convoy leaders, has criticized Lich’s bail terms, saying that they violate Charter-protected rights and freedoms.
“While the bail conditions align with Ms. Lich’s Charter right to be presumed innocent, they also violated Tamara Lich’s Charter freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly,” JCCF said in a news release on March 24.
Greenspon is well-known for representing several high-profile figures, including former senator Mike Duffy and Mohammad Momin Khawaja, the first Canadian charged and found guilty under Canada’s Anti-terrorism Act.
