Conservative MPs rally behind trucker convoy leaders as sentencing looms, saying, ‘They’re heroes, not criminals!’

The Crown's decision to prosecute two prominent organisers of the "Freedom Convoy" protests has drawn criticism from a number of Conservative MPs, with the party's deputy leader referring to it as an act of "political vengeance."

Due to their involvement in planning the protest, which blockaded the streets surrounding Parliament Hill for over three weeks in early 2022, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were found guilty of mischief in April.

The Crown wants Lich and Barber to serve long jail sentences


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Additionally, Barber was found guilty of advising people to defy a court order.

A number of accusations, including encouraging others to do mischief, were dropped.

Barber and Lich will appear in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 23, for a sentencing hearing.

The Crown wants to sentence Barber to eight years and Lich to seven years, according to social media posts.

She shared a screenshot of a portion of the Crown's argument to the judge, in which they referred to their acts as "the worst case of mischief" and contended that the right to free speech has never been unrestricted. The screenshot has not been independently confirmed by The Canadian Press.

Poilievre criticises prosecutors for seeking "political retribution"

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party, questioned the Crown's strategy in a Monday post on X.

He said, "Let’s get this straight: while rampant violent offenders are released hours after their most recent charges & antisemitic rioters vandalize businesses, terrorize daycares & block traffic without consequences, the Crown wants 7 years prison time for the charge of mischief for Lich & Barber."

"How is this justice?", he added.

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Conservative Members of Parliament criticise sentencing as "excessive"

"Equal application of the law would be a good start if the Crown suddenly wants to apply the law," wrote Melissa Lantsman, the deputy Conservative leader, in a social media post. "But this is political vengeance not actual justice and that's why trust in our institutions is dwindling."

The recommended punishment range was described as "excessive and vindictive" by Ontario Conservative MP Andrew Lawton.

For Chris's three-week nonviolent protest over three and a half years ago, the Crown is requesting a seven-year sentence [eight years]. "All the while, violent criminals are slapped on the wrist," Lawton stated.

"[seven to eight] years for holding the line and causing Justin Trudeau a political emergency," according to Saskatchewan MP Jeremy Patzer, is the suggested sentence, he likened it to an instance when a man attempted to purchase sex from a person he thought was 15 years old and was granted a conditional release.

The Liberals' priorities are rather obvious. The only people who are suggesting changing our laws to put the genuine criminals in jail are conservatives, Patzer stated.

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Poilievre's office upholds the freedom of speech of MPs

MPs "are raising concerns because the sentencing sought by the Crown in this particular case appears completely disproportionate, particularly when compared to violent criminals who have gotten away with a mere slap on the wrist," according to a statement from Poilievre's office.

In the April election, the Conservatives ran on a platform of toughness against crime. Poilievre committed to enact life sentences for some drug and human trafficking offences and guaranteed "jail not bail" for repeat offenders, promises that constitutional experts said would almost probably be overturned by the courts.

The social media tweets on Monday, July 21, followed criticism of Poilievre and his MPs by several well-known right-wing social media personalities and influencers for their purported lack of support for Lich and Barber.

At every court appearance, vociferous supporters have greeted Lich and Barber, and on Monday, Lich's post received hundreds of likes and comments.

Legal professionals caution politicians against meddling

Defence attorney Michael Spratt, who practices in Ottawa, referred to the MPs' choice to comment on the suggested sentence as "craven politics."

"Politicians' involvement in court-related matters is extremely risky," he stated.

According to Spratt, it has long been customary for politicians to refrain from forcing their opinions on Canada's legal system.

Politicians, however, occasionally cross that boundary. The granting of bail to a suspect in a homicide case involving the death of a Toronto police officer was described as "beyond comprehension" by Ontario Premier Doug Ford in 2021.

The accused was found not guilty in 2024. Spratt claimed that when the case's facts were revealed, lawmakers who had previously criticised the legal system looked dumb.

According to Spratt, politicians who decide to use well-known cases to "promote a political narrative" ultimately devalue the judiciary's job.

Conservatives maintain that the legal system is flawed

MPs are using their right to "raise concerns about disproportionate sentencing in the justice system," a spokesman for Poilievre's office, said.

The spokesperson stated that it is the responsibility of the opposition to bring up issues of proportionality and consistency in the criminal justice system, including sentencing laws and policies, as demonstrated by particular cases.

Although the allegation is "mischief," Spratt contended that this isn't an example of a child misbehaving, and that the Conservative criticism undervalues the seriousness of the charges.

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According to him, the case concerns two demonstrators who caused "real harm" to thousands of people living in downtown Ottawa and inflicted millions of dollars' worth of damage.

Justice Heather Perkins-McVey of the Ontario Court, who handed down the guilty judgements, stated on the criminal mischief trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber in her verdict on April 3, 2025, that despite being aware of the impact the protest was having on downtown residents and businesses, Lich and Barber frequently urged others to attend or stay.

In early 2022, thousands of demonstrators, cars, and large rig trucks gathered in downtown Ottawa to protest COVID-19 pandemic limits, vaccination requirements, and the administration of then-prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Many of the protesters continued to honk their truck horns throughout the day despite a court order to cease, refusing to leave the downtown area.

Locals claimed the stench of diesel fumes was overpowering and that they were harassed.

Amid criticism, Poilievre's support for the convoy reappears

Throughout the march, Poilievre backed the demonstrators. In a February 2022 video recorded outside Parliament, he labelled some of the truckers “honest, hard-working, decent people” and offered them coffee and doughnuts.

A few demonstration participants declared their desire to topple the government. At the time, Poilievre stated that the opinions of a select few should not be used to discredit the truckers as a group.

After the Trudeau administration used the Emergencies Act for the first time in the nation's history, a large-scale police operation ultimately dispersed the demonstration.

The use of the law, which granted the government, police, and financial institutions extensive powers to put an end to the protest, was the subject of a federal public inquiry. A year after the demonstrations, the commission published a report stating that the federal government had good reason to use the statute.

Outside remarks, according to Spratt, are unlikely to influence the judge's decision about Lich and Barber's potential sentencing.

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Because Pierre Poilievre chose to take to social media to voice his thoughts, he stated that this judge in particular would not make a ruling.