On October 7, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey issued conditional sentences to Tamara Lich and Chris Barber for their involvement in the 2022 Freedom Convoy. Both were convicted of mischief, a criminal offense. They will serve a year of house arrest, followed by six months under a curfew, but will not face additional jail time.

Lawrence Greenspon, Lich’s lawyer, expressed his surprise at the significant disparity between the Crown's and defense's sentencing recommendations. The Crown sought seven years for Lich and eight for Barber, while the defense argued for absolute discharges. Greenspon indicated that he and Lich are considering an appeal, with a decision expected within 30 days of the sentencing.

In a recent discussion, Greenspon questioned the rationale behind the lengthy trial, which lasted over 40 days. He noted that more serious cases are often dismissed due to delays in the court system. "Why did the Crown pursue it this way?" he asked, suggesting that the motivations behind the prosecution have been a topic of frequent inquiry.

He remarked, "Everyone says, oh, it’s political. I just don’t see that connection and I never have." Greenspon characterized the prosecution as excessively lengthy and intense, leading to what he described as harsh sentencing requests that the judge ultimately deemed excessive.

The judge's decision, according to Greenspon, involved balancing freedom of expression against property rights. He pointed out that while freedom of expression is protected, it can have consequences. He stated, "In this case, the consequences of freedom of expression, the honking horns, were mostly stopped by virtue of the injunction."

Greenspon also highlighted the impact of the protests on local businesses and residents near Parliament Hill, noting that a class action lawsuit is underway seeking damages for disruptions caused by the protests. He argued that the non-violent nature of the trucker protests did not warrant criminalization.

He criticized the government's invocation of the Emergencies Act, calling it an "abuse of power" and referencing a ruling by Judge Richard Mosley that supported this view. Greenspon stated, "The Emergencies Act should never have happened," and compared the current situation to historical crises that warranted such measures.

When asked about the government's response to anti-Israel protests compared to the Freedom Convoy, Greenspon acknowledged a perceived double standard. "Yes, it’s a double standard," he said, suggesting that demographic factors may influence the differing responses. He noted that Lich had publicly condemned hateful messages during the protests, contrasting this with the lack of similar condemnation from pro-Palestinian protesters.

Greenspon emphasized the importance of limits on freedom of expression, particularly when it comes to inciting hatred against identifiable groups. He expressed hope that the Ontario Court of Appeal would recognize the non-violent nature of the Freedom Convoy protests and ultimately acquit Lich. He believes such a ruling would affirm that peaceful demonstrations should not be criminalized, provided they do not promote hate.