Court imposes 18-month conditional sentence on Tamara Lich, with credit for pre-trial custody, following her role in the 2022 peaceful protest.
OTTAWA— Today, Justice Heather Perkins-McVey sentenced Tamara Lich to an 18-month conditional sentence for her conviction of mischief related to the 2022 Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa. After crediting 74 days of pre-trial custody, the sentence totals approximately 15.5 months, to be served in the community under statutory conditions.
Lich, who has become a symbol of civil liberties and the right to peaceful protest, will report to a supervisor and have her supervision transferred to Alberta. The sentence includes 12 months of house arrest, with exceptions for medical emergencies involving family, travel for employment, legal obligations, medical appointments, and religious services. She is permitted up to five hours per week for necessities of life and may be present for the birth of her grandchild. For the remaining 3.5 months, Lich will be subject to a curfew. Additionally, she must complete 100 hours of community service.
This ruling follows a protracted legal battle, including the longest mischief trial in Canadian history, during which Lich was acquitted of multiple charges but convicted of mischief for her organizational role and for encouraging participants. The Crown had sought a seven-year prison term, highlighting a very concerning contrast between the requested penalty and the community-based sentence imposed.
The Democracy Fund, which has funded Lich’s legal defence through generous donor support, has confirmed its intention to appeal the conviction and sentence to safeguard Canadians' fundamental freedoms.
“This conditional sentence imposes significant restrictions on her liberty for actions that were fundamentally peaceful and aimed at upholding democratic values,” said Mark Joseph, Director of Litigation for The Democracy Fund. “We will continue to fight this case on appeal to ensure that the rights of all Canadians to protest without fear of undue punishment are protected.”
TDF lawyers attended the sentencing hearing and provided live updates. The organization remains committed to defending civil liberties in the face of government overreach.
About The Democracy Fund:
Founded in 2021, The Democracy Fund (TDF) is a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, advancing education, and relieving poverty. TDF promotes constitutional rights through litigation and public education and supports an access to justice initiative for Canadians whose civil liberties have been infringed by government lockdowns and other public policy responses to the pandemi