Convoy organizer Lich to receive Jonas freedom award

Tamara Lich has been awarded The George Jonas Freedom Award for her part in organizing the Freedom Convoy truckers protest that drew international attention for occupying Ottawa's downtown core in February.

The Calgary-based Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) will present the award to Lich on June 16 at a ceremony in Toronto. National Post columnist Rex Murphy is slated to be the keynote speaker.

George Jonas (1935-2016) was a renowned Canadian author, poet and columnist who wrote on the importance of freedoms. The award recognizes and honours one individual each year who has contributed significantly to advancing and preserving freedom in Canada.

For leading the convoy, Lich was charged on Feb. 17 with mischief, counselling mischief, intimidation, counselling intimidation, counselling obstruction of police and obstructing police. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Lich was initially denied bail, but that decision was reversed March 7 following a review. She was released on $25,000 bond with conditions not to protest COVID mandates or use any form of social media, and ordered to return to her home in Medicine Hat, Alta.

The JCCF, which is helping Lich with her challenge of the ruling, says the conditions violate her guarantees of free expression, association and peaceful assembly. She has hired Ottawa-based criminal defence lawyer Lawrence Greenspon.

The centre says the ban on Lich's expression on social media, including comment on COVID-19 health measures, lacks a “rational connection” to a risk to public safety or committing further offences.

John Carpay, president of the JCCF, said Lich's twoand-a-half-week custody was “highly unusual,” and noted she had no criminal record and was not charged with a violent crime. “People accused of drug trafficking, illegal firearms possession and violent offences are routinely granted freedom prior to trial,” said Carpay.

A Justice Centre news release had described Lich as a “political prisoner.” Lich was a leader in the Wexit movement, which pushed for the independence of Western Canada, and an organizer of the Yellow Vest protests in Alberta in 2019 that targeted the federal carbon tax.