‘To whom shall I apologize?’ Freedom Convoy defendants accept house arrest without ‘remorse’

After a trial lasting two years and one month, Ontario Justice Heather Perkins-McVey on Tuesday handed down conditional sentences to Freedom Convoy organizers Chris Barber and Tamara Lich.

Barber received 12 months of house arrest followed by a six-month curfew.

‘I told Lawrence that day that I’ll serve 100 years in prison before I will ever apologize.’

Lich was sentenced to twelve months of house arrest and an additional three and a half months of curfew — reduced from six months because she has already spent 74 days in custody. Both must complete 100 hours of community service.

The judge granted exceptions allowing Barber to continue his trucking work.

‘Absence of remorse’

Perkins-McVey rejected an absolute discharge for either defendant, citing “an absence” of remorse. At the same time, she averred that the years-long prison sentences sought by prosecutors — eight for Barber and seven for Lich — would be “unfit.” The pair had been found guilty April 3 of mischief charges.

In a video posted to X, Barber thanked supporters:

We’re still here, and I just wanted to reach out to everybody and say thank you very much for all the support.

I’ve officially lost control of the inboxes on all accounts. I cannot keep up with the messages of support, but I will do my best on the way home to respond to each and every one of you. I just had to come on here and say thanks.

I’m going to sum up what my mother said to me yesterday after court:

“Son, I would rather have you home safe for 18 months than have you sit in a jail cell for six.”

I agree with her. I can still work. I can still do the farm duties. I mean, there’s worse places to be than on the farm, where I have property and I can get some work done and I can still truck.

So again, thank you very much everyone for the support out there. We really appreciate it. It’s been quite the ordeal, and I think we’ve woke a lot of people up around the country, and we continue to wake these people up to … exactly what happened and how the government acted and is still acting.”

No regrets

Lich later posted on X:

Lawrence and I discussed remorse in a meeting at his office prior to our sentencing hearing in July. I told him I would not, and could not, express remorse as it would be dishonest and disingenuous.

To whom shall I apologize? The thousands of Canadians who stopped planning to take their own lives when the convoy started? To the thousands … who were able to return to their jobs? Or should I apologize to all the Canadians who can kiss their dying loved ones or have their families over for Thanksgiving?

I told Lawrence that day that I’ll serve 100 years in prison before I will ever apologize.

RELATED: Canada still bent on seizing Freedom Convoy symbol ‘Big Red’

Chris Barber

‘Lawful protest’?

Official opposition leader Pierre Poilievre took to X to comment on the verdict:

Tamara Lich and Chris Barber peacefully protested the imposition of emergency measures that the Federal Court found to be unlawful and unconstitutional. Instead of pursuing rapists, drug dealers and other monsters, the Crown sought lengthy prison sentences. Justice Perkins-McVey rightly rejected the Crown’s request, and sent Tamara and Chris home to their families. We must get to a justice system that ensures the security and freedom of all Canadians.

Perkins-McVey said she relied heavily on victim-impact statements to determine the extent of the convoy’s disruption of business and day-to-day life in downtown Ottawa. She was careful to stress the nonviolent and accommodating nature of the protest.

Read the full article here