Beloved Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich will appeal her bail conditions, claiming they violate her Charter freedoms.
Lich was released on March 7 following a judge change that saw a previous Liberal MP candidate, Julie Bourgeois, swapped out. At the time, Bourgeois stated, “There is a substantial risk you will continue these actions and will not abide by an order,” ultimately deciding to deny Lich bail over minor charges.
Notably, just before the judge change, Lich was notoriously brought into her bail hearing in leg shackles, shocking many, including legal experts, over the unnecessary precautions used on a non-violent offender.
Upon release, Lich received a hero’s welcome in Alberta by adoring crowds, happy to see her free and grateful for the stand she took for their rights and freedoms.
Though Lich was finally released, several restricting bail conditions were imposed and remained in place.
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 is now appealing these bail conditions, with Lich’s representation arguing 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….”
