(Ottawa) The trial of two of the organizers of the “freedom convoy”, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, is paused and is expected to resume on October 11.
The court finished hearing testimony Friday from Serge Arpin, chief of staff to the mayor of Ottawa at the time of the demonstration.
The Crown witness explained how the City responded to the demonstration that paralyzed part of the federal capital’s downtown for three weeks in the winter of 2022.
PHOTO JUSTIN TANG, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Chris Barber
Mr. Arpin also testified about his interactions with the convoy organizers, as he struck a deal, on behalf of Mayor Jim Watson, to move the big trucks out of residential neighborhoods.
The chief of staff and the mayor hoped that this agreement would allow some 400 heavy trucks to leave residential areas of Ottawa.
The presentation of evidence was initially expected to be completed at this point in the trial, which was expected to last 16 days. But Mr. Arpin is only the fourth witness called to the stand and the Crown plans to call 22 witnesses. The court wonders how much more time will be needed to conclude this trial.
Judge Heather Perkins-McVey identified several dates in October and November.
Lawrence Greenspon, the lawyer representing Mme Lich, said he did not want to set new court dates until the Crown had a new, more accurate estimate of how long it would take to present its case.
As of Friday, the resumption of the hearing was set for October 11.
Mme Lich and Mr Barber are on trial for mischief, intimidation and counseling others to commit misdeeds.
Vehicle idling
The defense questioned Mr. Arpin on Friday about how the city council and staff tried to stop the protest. As the mayor’s chief of staff, Mr. Arpin told the court he sat in on every council meeting.
He was asked about a rule change on February 9 last year which banned idling a vehicle unless the outside temperature cooled to -15C. The regulations originally allowed idling if the temperature was below 5°C.
” City Council […] was trying to freeze truckers and their families,” suggested M.e Greenspon in court.
Mr. Arpin said he believed the intention was to end the protest.
He sent text messages to the convoy organizers’ attorney, Keith Wilson, on Feb. 14 and 15, in an exchange that was entered into evidence at trial.
The messages suggest that city staff did not inform protest organizers or their lawyers of their intention to file a court injunction against protesters who violated city bylaws.
“Just so you know, it is highly irregular that the City’s lawyers did this without informing us, the lawyers,” Mr. Wilson wrote to Mr. Arpin on February 15.
“This could change everything. »
Mr Arpin told Mr Wilson he was under the impression they were aware of the court filing, but told the court he only informed them himself after the injunction had been granted by a judge.
Lawyers representing the convoy organizers were not given the opportunity to oppose the request in court at the time.
The agreement between Mme Lich and the mayor collapsed later in the day when police no longer allowed trucks to approach parliament.
Mr. Arpin confirmed that the police department underwent a change of command that day following the resignation of the police chief.
He apologized to Mr Wilson at that time, text messages show.
“Our goal has always been de-escalation and I know you share that goal,” he wrote in a message sent to Mr. Wilson on February 16.
The Crown hopes to resume presenting its case in October with eight local Ottawa witnesses who lived or worked downtown during the “freedom march” protest.
Me Greenspon argued that such testimony would amount to victim impact statements and therefore should not be allowed to be heard during the trial.
Judge Perkins-McVey said she did not know whether she would be ready to rule on that argument before the trial resumes next month.
Mme Lich and Mr. Barber have already admitted that wrongdoing took place in the protest zone.