Though currently barred from making public statements on freedom by court order, Tamara Lich just won the George Jonas Freedom Award from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF).
“Ms. Lich inspired Canadians to exercise their Charter rights and freedoms by participating actively in the democratic process and took the initiative to help organize a peaceful protest and serve as one of its leaders,” JCCF President John Carpay told the Sun.
And those in Lich’s community likely couldn’t be happier with the decision or more proud of Lich as a freedom fighter. As previously reported by The Counter Signal, Lich received a hero’s welcome upon her return to Alberta.
“The resulting peaceful protest in Ottawa awakened many Canadians to the injustice of Charter-violating lockdowns and mandatory vaccination policies,” Carpay continued. “Ms. Lich has suffered for the cause of freedom by spending 18 days unjustly jailed, and exemplifies courage, determination and perseverance.”
However, given her current bail conditions, Lich won’t be able to accept the award — as the ceremony will be held in Toronto in June.
One of the conditions states: “You are not to enter the province of Ontario except to attend court and meet with council.”
Lich is currently appealing these conditions.
As the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms explains, “On March 7, 2022, Justice John M. Johnston released Tamara Lich from jail, in accordance with her Charter right to be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. While the bail conditions align with Ms. Lich’s Charter right to be presumed innocent, they also violated Tamara Lich’s Charter freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly through the following 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.”
Lich’s representation argues that effectively banning Lich from social media is “incompatible with the principle of restraint, and also incompatible with perfectly legitimate forms of expression or expression on social media or otherwise….”
