Skip to main content
NewslettersWatchlist

Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are on trial for criminal charges related to their roles in the Ottawa convoy protests in 2022.

Criminal trial of convoy organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber to end after one year
Tamara Lich arrives at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. Today is expected to mark the end of the criminal trial for two prominent organizers of the "Freedom Convoy" protest, more than one year after the proceedings began. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Criminal trial of convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber nears end of closing arguments
Chris Barber arrives at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Convoy organizer Chris Barber’s lawyers make final arguments
Chris Barber arrives at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. Barber and fellow Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich are charged with mischief, obstructing police, counselling others to commit mischief and intimidation. The criminal mischief trial of two prominent “Freedom Convoy’ organizers is prepared to hear final arguments from the defence today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Crown makes case for conspiracy in trial of convoy organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber
Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber wait for the Public Order Emergency Commission to begin, Nov. 1, 2022 in Ottawa. The drawn-out criminal trial of "Freedom Convoy" organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber is expected to wind down this week as lawyers prepare to deliver their final arguments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
‘They crossed the line’: Crown in closing arguments for convoy organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber
Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber wait for the Public Order Emergency Commission to begin, Nov. 1, 2022 in Ottawa. The drawn-out criminal trial of "Freedom Convoy" organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber is expected to wind down this week as lawyers prepare to deliver their final arguments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Latest news, commentary and analysis

canada
Criminal trial of convoy organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber to end after one year
Tamara Lich arrives at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. Today is expected to mark the end of the criminal trial for two prominent organizers of the "Freedom Convoy" protest, more than one year after the proceedings began. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
canada
Criminal trial of convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber nears end of closing arguments
Chris Barber arrives at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
canada
Convoy organizer Chris Barber’s lawyers make final arguments
Chris Barber arrives at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024. Barber and fellow Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich are charged with mischief, obstructing police, counselling others to commit mischief and intimidation. The criminal mischief trial of two prominent “Freedom Convoy’ organizers is prepared to hear final arguments from the defence today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
canada
Crown makes case for conspiracy in trial of convoy organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber
Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber wait for the Public Order Emergency Commission to begin, Nov. 1, 2022 in Ottawa. The drawn-out criminal trial of "Freedom Convoy" organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber is expected to wind down this week as lawyers prepare to deliver their final arguments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
canada
‘They crossed the line’: Crown in closing arguments for convoy organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber
Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber wait for the Public Order Emergency Commission to begin, Nov. 1, 2022 in Ottawa. The drawn-out criminal trial of "Freedom Convoy" organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber is expected to wind down this week as lawyers prepare to deliver their final arguments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
sports
Grade 8 student Colton Dee overcomes serious leg injury to qualify for Drive, Chip and Putt final
Colton Dee practicing in Orlando, Florida in March, 2024.
canada
Ontario judge will hear conspiracy argument in trial of convoy organizers
Tamara Lich arrives to the Ottawa Courthouse in Ottawa on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. An Ontario court judge says she will entertain arguments that "Freedom Convoy" organizers Lich and Chris Barber acted as co-conspirators as part of their criminal trial.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
canada
Ottawa to consult widely before changes to Emergencies Act
Video2:12
canada
Convoy protest organizer suing Ottawa for using Emergencies Act to freeze accounts
A main organizer of the “Freedom Convoy” is suing the federal government for using the Emergencies Act to freeze his bank accounts saying it breached his Charter rights to protest COVID-19 mandates. Chris Barber arrives to the Ottawa Courthouse in Ottawa on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
canada
Trial of convoy organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber adjourned until 2024
Tamara Lich and her lawyer Lawrence Greenspon arrive for her trial at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. The criminal trial of "Freedom Convoy" leaders Lich and Chris Barber has adjourned after more than 30 days of evidence and arguments, and is expected to resume early next year.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
canada
Crown lays out convoy protest conspiracy argument
The Crown is expected to lay out its case for why evidence against one "Freedom Convoy" organizer should apply to another in the criminal trial of two of the protest's leaders. Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are co-accused for their role in the 2022 protest that blocked streets around Parliament Hill for weeks to oppose COVID-19 public health restrictions. Lich arrives to the Ottawa Courthouse in Ottawa on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
canada
Emergencies Act included exemption for lawful protest, defence says in criminal trial
The lawyers in the criminal trial of two "Freedom Convoy" organizers are expected to continue their debate over whether Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were co-conspirators in the protest. Barber arrives to the Ottawa Courthouse in Ottawa on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
canada
‘Hold the line’ rallying cry doesn’t imply illegal behaviour, Tamara Lich’s lawyer says
Defence lawyers representing two high-profile "Freedom Convoy" organizers are expected to present more new evidence today as they lay out their case. Tamara Lich arrives for her trial at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
canada
Defence begins its case in criminal trial of high-profile convoy protest organizers
Tamara Lich arrives at the courthouse in Ottawa, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. Chris Barber and Tamara Lich are starting their case for why the co-accused's actions during the February 2022 demonstrations weren't criminal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
canada
No evidence to support conspiracy between convoy organizers, defence says
Tamara Lich arrives to the Ottawa Courthouse in Ottawa on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Lich's defence team says there's no evidence to support that she and hew fellow "Freedom Convoy" organizer should be viewed as conspirators in court, because their actions were not illegal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
canada
Police testimony resumes in criminal trial of Ottawa truck convoy organizers
The criminal trial of two "Freedom Convoy" organizers resumed today after a two-week break with testimony from an Ottawa Police Service liaison officer. Chris Barber arrives to the Ottawa Courthouse in Ottawa on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
canada
Protesters not influenced by convoy organizers, agrees Ottawa police officer
Chris Barber arrives for his trial at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. The testimony of police liaison officers is set to continue in the trial of two high-profile "Freedom Convoy" organizers today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
canada
Judge in trial of convoy protest organizers orders access to internal police docs
Diane Magas, left, lawyer for Chris Barber, centre, arrive at the courthouse in Ottawa, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. A police liaison officer who was in touch with organizer Chris Barber during the "Freedom Convoy" protests last year is set to continue her testimony in his criminal trial today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle
canada
Defence’s fight for internal police documents continues in trial of convoy organizers
Tamara Lich and her lawyer Lawrence Greenspon arrive for her trial at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. The lawyers for two "Freedom Convoy" organizers are expected to continue their legal fight for access to internal police documents as part of their criminal defence.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
canada
Crown drops bail violation charge against convoy organizer Tamara Lich
Tamara Lich arrives at the courthouse in Ottawa, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. The Crown has dropped a criminal charge against "Freedom Convoy" organizer Lich that alleged she violated her bail conditions last summer.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
canada
Lost police messages slow convoy organizers’ trial
Tamara Lich arrives at the courthouse in Ottawa, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
canada
Chris Barber said he felt convoy was ‘out of control’ in early days, police witness says
One of three police liaison offers scheduled to testify is expected to give her testimony today at the criminal trial for "Freedom Convoy" organizer Chris Barber. A protesting truck driver, centre, discusses with police liaison how to leave the area during a demonstration, part of a convoy-style protest participants are calling "Rolling Thunder", in Ottawa, Friday, April 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
canada
Criminal trial of Ottawa convoy organizers rewinds to discuss start of protest
Lawrence Greenspon, left, lawyer for Tamara Lich, not shown, arrives at the courthouse in Ottawa, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. A police liaison officer who communicated directly with "Freedom Convoy" protesters during the winter 2022 demonstrations is expected to testify today in the criminal trial of two of its organizers.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
canada
Zexi Li, convoy organizers’ lawyers spar over use of the word ‘occupation’ in court
The woman who went to court to get an injunction against the "Freedom Convoy" last year is set to testify today in the criminal trial of two of the protest's organizers. Zexi Li is expected to take the stand in the trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, who organized a convoy of thousands of big rig trucks and protesters to Ottawa to protest COVID-19 public health restrictions. Li appears as a witness at the Public Order Emergency Commission, in Ottawa, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
canada
Judge to allow Ottawa residents to testify in trial of convoy protest organizers
The criminal trial of two prominent "Freedom Convoy" organizers is expected to resume Wednesday with a ruling on whether the court will hear testimony from local Ottawa residents. Tamara Lich arrives at the courthouse for trial in Ottawa on Monday, September 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
canada
Convoy organizers’ trial on scheduled break until after Thanksgiving
Tamara Lich arrives for her trial at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. Lich and fellow Freedom Convoy organizer Chris Barber are charged with mischief, obstructing police, counselling others to commit mischief and intimidation. The justice overseeing the trial is expected to decide whether the court can hear from eight local Ottawa civilian witnesses.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
canada
Notes suggest City of Ottawa considered leaving big-rig trucks on Wellington indefinitely, court hears
<div>Ottawa' emergency services manager is expected to take the stand for the third day in a row in the criminal trial of two 'Freedom Convoy' organizers. Kim Ayotte, General Manager of Emergency and Protective Services at the City of Ottawa, arrives at the courthouse in Ottawa where he will appear as a witness at the trial of "Freedom Convoy" organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang</div>
canada
Lawyer raises Jordan concerns in convoy protest case as delays drag on
Tamara Lich arrives at the courthouse for trial in Ottawa on Monday, September 18, 2023. The criminal trial of two "Freedom Convoy" organizers is expected to hear the city's perspective on the controversial protest as Ottawa's emergency manager takes the stand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
canada
Demonstrators wouldn’t leave as police moved in on convoy protest, court hears
Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon walks with Tamara Lich in to the courthouse on the first day of trial, in Ottawa, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. The lawyers involved in the case of two prominent "Freedom Convoy" organizers are working to keep the court from coming to a complete standstill as the trial enters its third week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
politics
Video in which Tamara Lich referred to as convoy ‘president’ played in court
Tamara Lich walks with her lawyer Lawrence Greenspon as they make their way to the courthouse for trial, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
politics
Convoy organizers’ lawyers seek to block Ottawa residents from testifying at criminal trial
Tamara Lich arrives for her trial at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Lich and fellow Freedom Convoy organizer Chris Barber are charged with mischief, obstructing police, counselling others to commit mischief and intimidation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
politics
Judge in Lich, Barber criminal trial says case has the potential to go ‘off the rails’
<div>Day four of the criminal trial of "Freedom Convoy" organizer Tamara Lich and Chris Barber is set to focus on whether the content of the group's Facebook page should be entered into evidence.&nbsp;Barber arrives for his trial at the courthouse in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang</div>
opinion
The courts cannot be democracy’s last, best hope
David Moscrop
politics
Crown shows convoy organizer’s TikTok in court, with hours of social media posts submitted as evidence
Chris Barber speaks with his lawyer Diane Magas as he walks to court with his wife on the second day of the trial for "Freedom Convoy" organizers Barber and Tamara Lich, Wednesday, September 6, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
politics
Tamara Lich’s lawyer says testimony shows clear efforts by organizers to reduce convoy’s footprint in Ottawa
Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon walks with Tamara Lich in to the courthouse on the first day of trial, in Ottawa, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
politics
Trial for Ottawa trucker convoy’s key organizers not about their political views, Crown says
Tamara Lich walks with lawyer Lawrence Greenspon (left) as they make their way to the courthouse on the first day of trial, in Ottawa, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
canada
Nexus pilot project extends to Peace Bridge as Canada, U.S. look to address application backlog
politics
Social media was key to convoy protest, expert tells Emergencies Act inquiry
canada
Blockades warranted the legal use of Emergencies Act, Trudeau testifies at inquiry
Video3:13