The leader of the freedom convoy, Tamara Leach, will not return to prison, a judge ruled after a crown prosecutor argued in court that she had violated the conditions for her release.
In a two-day bail review last week, the Ottawa protest organizer, who stopped the city for weeks, called for a change in the conditions for her release to allow her to visit Ontario – and Ottawa in particular – and use social media.
The Crown, meanwhile, says Leach must be re-arrested for allegedly violating his bail conditions so as not to support anything related to the convoy and stay out of social media.
On Wednesday, Judge Kevin Phillips ruled that he would change Leach’s bail to allow her to come to Ontario, but would restrict her from entering downtown Ottawa.
The reason why Leach wants to visit Ottawa is subject to a ban on publication in court and cannot be revealed.
Phillips turned down a request from Leach’s lawyer, Lawrence Greenspan, to allow her to return to social media. He told the court that Leach was old enough to live in a time without social media, and she could continue to keep in touch with people through other means, such as texting.
Tamara Leach received an award from the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms for her work to help organize the Freedom Convoy protest, which occupied some streets in downtown Ottawa weeks earlier this year. (jccf.ca)
Accepting a prize, wearing Freedom Convoy jewelry, without violating the warranty
During the bail review, Leach testified that he “would like to” attend an event in Toronto in June to receive a freedom award, “but I will not violate my release to do so.”
On March 28, a charity called the Center for Justice for Constitutional Freedoms sent an email to Leach to inform it that it had been selected for the 2022 George Jonas Freedom Prize, she told the court.
The e-mail she read aloud said the honor was given “in recognition of your leadership role in the Freedom Convoy.”
The award announcement on the centre’s website said Leach “took the initiative to help organize a peaceful protest and serve as one of its leaders.” The peaceful protest in Ottawa has aroused many Canadians about the injustices of Charter-blocking violators and mandatory vaccination policies.
It also says that she “suffered for the cause of freedom by spending 18 days unjustly in prison, and is an example of courage, determination and perseverance.”
The day after receiving the email, Leach sent an email saying it was “an honor” to accept. She did not ask if it would be okay, she testified during a cross-examination by Karimji.
Asked if she supported anything related to the convoy by accepting the award, Leach said: “I guess so. I suppose so.
“I do not think this is a violation. “I don’t think that’s the recognition … I feel that the recognition is to inspire Canadians to hold the government accountable for the rule of law and to defend their rights under the Charter,” she continued.
There is no connection between the award and the convoy, the judge ruled
Phillips told the court he accepted Leach’s evidence that there was no connection between the convoy and receiving the award. He agreed that the convoy of freedom was over and that it would be “practically impossible” to organize such a protest in the city.
He also said Leach was not responsible for what other people posted online, dismissing Crown’s claim that she had also violated her ban on social media by taking a picture of herself with a truck pendant and the words “Freedom” and “Canada” decorated on it.
Leach sent the photo to the supporter, who gave her the pendant, who then posted it on social media.
Phillips also said that Leach was not responsible for the actions of the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms and said that “there is significant uncertainty” to the extent that Leach will be held guilty of her general participation in the convoy of freedoms.
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