The Crown has dropped a bail violation charge against Tamara Lich for allegedly violating her bail conditions last summer.

Crown attorney Siobhain Wetscher stayed the charge on Monday, telling the court that doing so would permit more time to conduct the primary criminal trial against Lich, which has faced delays.

One of the 2021 Freedom Convoy organizers, Lich is currently on trial for a mischief charge, as well as advising others to commit mischief, namely through telling protesters to “hold the line” after she was arrested. 

Bail violation charge

Last summer, the crown alleged that Lich broke her bail conditions when she briefly spoke with Tom Marazzo — someone she was instructed not to talk with as a condition of her bail — while attending a sold-out gala hosted by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms where she was awarded the 2022 George Jonas Freedom Award.

Her lawyer argued that — as permitted via her bail conditions — that lawyers were present at the award ceremony, making the 3-second interaction with Marazzo permissible. Marazzo also sat at her table, where her lawyers were as well.

Just before Canada Day in 2022, Lich was re-arrested in her hometown of Medicine Hat, Alberta, for breaching her bail conditions.

As per the bail conditions, “You are not to log on to social media or post any messages on social media. … You are not to allow anyone else to post messages on Social Media on your behalf or indicate your approval for any future protests so long as this release order is in place… You are not to engage in organization or promotion of anti-COVID 19 mandate activities and Freedom Convoy activities … You are not to verbally, or in writing, financially, or by any other means, support anything related to the Freedom Convoy. …”

“The violation of a bail condition can result in a fine, imprisonment, or both.”

All of this is for mischief charges incurred while fighting for Canadians’ rights and freedoms.