Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich has been denied bail after the Crown charged her with breaching one of its existing conditions.
Ms Lich faces multiple charges of mischief and obstructing police for her role in the massive protest that paralyzed downtown Ottawa for more than three weeks last winter.
She now faces an additional charge of breaching a bail condition after showing up to a dinner party in Toronto last month with fellow protest leader Tom Marazzo.
Ms. Lich’s initial bond ordered her to have no contact with several other protest leaders, including Mr. Marazzo, without her lawyer present.
Police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for Ms Lich for the alleged breach of her bail conditions and she was arrested last week in Medicine Hat, Alberta, where she resides.
The onus was on Ms Lich to prove that her attendance at the event with Mr Marazzo did not breach the no contact order and Justice of the Peace Paul Harris said that was not shown by the court. accused.
She will remain in jail pending trial, with her next court date set for July 14.
His lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, said as he left the courthouse that he will be applying for a bail review in Ontario Superior Court.
He said his client was “obviously disappointed” with the outcome and eager to regain her freedom.
Mr Greenspon had argued that Ms Lich had not breached the bail condition because her lawyers were present at the gala where she was seen with Mr Marazzo.
She accepted an award at the event for organizing the convoy protest against COVID-19 restrictions and the federal Liberal government.
The attorney also said that Ms. Lich and Mr. Marazzo only had a brief interaction.
Both were key spokespersons for the winter protest against COVID-19 restrictions. Mr. Marazzo is also the leader of a group calling itself “Veterans 4 Freedom”, which held several rallies in Ottawa over the Canada Day weekend.
Supporters of Ms. Lich gathered outside the courthouse on Friday waving Canadian flags. Several of his supporters were in the courtroom as the decision was read, with a woman’s cries being heard as bail was denied.