In a trial that has captured the attention of freedom-loving patriots across North America, Canadian “Freedom Convoy” leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber have been found guilty of mischief. Justice Heather Perkins-McVey, the federal judge presiding over the case, delivered the verdict on Thursday.
Lich and Barber, two emblematic figures in the fight against oppressive mandates, were charged with six counts, including mischief, obstruction, intimidation, and counseling others to commit these acts. The Ottawa Citizen highlighted:
Lich and Barber were also found not guilty of obstructing police and counselling someone to obstruct police. Both were arrested without incident ahead of a mass police enforcement operation that began on Feb. 18, 2022, to end the protest entirely.
While Barber faced a conviction for counseling others to defy a court order related to a noise injunction in Ottawa, Lich was not charged with this specific offense. Another charge, counseling others to commit mischief, was dismissed as unnecessary by the Crown due to the existing mischief conviction.
Maxime Bernier, leader of The People’s Party of Canada, was vocal in his criticism of the verdict, viewing it as a miscarriage of justice. On X, he declared:
It is disheartening to learn that two of the heroes of the Freedom Convoy, @LichTamara and @ChrisBarber1975, have been found guilty of mischief in the longest and one of the costliest trials in Canadian history.
This clearly was a political witch hunt.
Meanwhile, Trudeau and his ministers who illegally invoked the Emergencies Act and violated basic rights will go unpunished.
Our justice system is corrupt to the bones.
— Maxime Bernier (@MaximeBernier)
April 3, 2025
The Freedom Convoy, a movement that saw around 50,000 Canadian truckers converging to challenge overreaching COVID mandates, remains a symbol of resistance for many. The Court is scheduled to reconvene on April 16 to determine a sentencing date for these freedom fighters.
