“Freedom Convoy” | Public transport was interrupted during the demonstrations

(Ottawa) An Ottawa court heard Friday that the city was seized during last year’s “Freedom Convoy” demonstration, when demonstrators blocked streets and diverted traffic. public transport in the city center.

The fourth week of the criminal trial of organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber was dedicated to hearing from Ottawa residents who lived or worked downtown during the protest.

On Friday, court heard from the person responsible for diverting public transit routes and the owner of a high-end boutique in Ottawa’s ByWard Market.

“I saw our streets, I saw our city being seized and completely invaded by these so-called demonstrators,” Chantal Biro told the court.

She said there were far fewer customers in her store and saw a dramatic drop in sales when thousands of protesters arrived in Ottawa early last year to demonstrate against health restrictions. public related to COVID-19.

The streets near M’s store^me Biro were blocked by large trucks and vans honking their horns.

She remembers the smell of fuel coming from the tailpipes of constantly moving vehicles, as well as the smoke of marijuana and cigarettes seeping into the premises.

She said she was unable to have her packages delivered to the store, but was able to drive to her usual parking lot and walk to the store seven days a week. She avoided going out because of unpleasant clashes with certain demonstrators, who made fun of her because she wore a mask and insulted her when she asked them to move away from the door of her business.

None of the local witnesses heard by the court this week had any contact with M^me Lich or Mr. Barber, both of whom are accused of misdeeds and counseling others to commit misdeeds, among other things.

The blocked streets also had repercussions on public transit routes in the city center, Natalie Huneault of OC Transpo said Friday.

M^me Huneault is responsible for planning detours to accommodate events and demonstrations that disrupt bus service in Ottawa. She told the court she had rerouted 18 routes which usually ran through the city centre.

This meant that around 150 downtown bus stops were not used during the protest as streets were blocked and closed.

OC Transpo organized an extraordinary shuttle to pick up residents.

Before the convoy arrived, she said the event that caused the longest disruption to transit was the Ottawa Italian Festival, which lasted three days.

The convoy disruptions lasted more than three weeks.

Mr. Barber’s lawyer, Marwa Younes, reminded the court that other factors led to longer delays, including construction and street closures.

Friday was supposed to be the last day of the criminal trial, but it is now expected to continue for several weeks.

There are still several names on the Crown’s witness list, including Zexi Li, the lead plaintiff in a proposed class action against the protest organizers, on behalf of people who lived and worked in downtown Ottawa during of the event.

M^me Biro told the court she had taken steps to join this class action on behalf of her company.

The court also expects to hear from the police officers responsible for liaising with the demonstrators.

Before court adjourned Friday, lawyers discussed some of the challenges of allowing more time in the trial and disclosing evidence to the defense, before more police officers took the stand.

Mr. Barber’s other lawyer, Diane Magas, raised the issue of timing. The Supreme Court’s Jordan decision states that anyone accused of a crime has the right to be tried within a reasonable time, which the court set at 18 months.

“ [L’arrêt] Jordan is a real problem in this case right now,” Ms.^me Stores.

The trial is expected to resume Monday.