“Freedom Convoy” organizer Tamara Lich will again be released from jail on bail after she was detained earlier in July for allegedly violating her previous bail conditions.
Ontario Superior Court Justice Andrew Goodman granted Lich another bail hearing after he ruled that the earlier order on July 8 for Lich’s detainment was “clearly inappropriate.”
Lich was re-arrested after having contact with fellow protest leader Tom Marazzo at an awards gala in Toronto last month. The Crown argued that the contact violated Lich’s bail conditions, as she had been ordered not to communicate with key convoy organizers except through counsel or in the presence of counsel.
In court on Monday, Lich’s lawyer Lawrence Greenspon argued the two organizers did nothing more than shake hands and pose for a photo together at the gala hosted by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, where she received a “Freedom Award” for her role during the convoy that occupied downtown Ottawa for weeks in February. The occupation was in protest of COVID-19 restrictions, including vaccine mandates at workplaces and for truckers.
Goodman said Justice of the Peace Paul Harris had made “erroneous” conclusions and “misapprehended” the evidence against Lich when deciding she broke her bail conditions.
Lich will be released on Tuesday after spending more than 48 days in jail. She faces charges of mischief, obstructing police, counselling others to commit mischief and intimidation. Lich is scheduled to appear in court again on July 28.
Goodman warned Lich to abide by the conditions of her bail as he does not expect her to be released a third time if her bail comes into question again.
About a dozen of Lich’s supporters were seen gathered by a white pickup truck parked by the court house where they appeared to be live-streaming the proceedings over a loudspeaker.
“Thank you, judge,” one supporter shouted upon learning the decision. “She’s coming out!”
— with files from Marc-André Cossette and The Canadian Press