Ottawa residents said they witnessed traffic disruptions, “incessant” honking, and urination on public property during the Freedom Convoy protest, testifying on the 15th day of the trial of Chris Barber and Tamara Lich, two of the main protest organizers.
“It was shocking to me. It upset me because my place at work is a sanctuary and they were sullying it and they were rude,” testified Vivian Leir, an employee at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church near the intersection of Kent and Wellington streets in downtown Ottawa close to Parliament Hill.
Ms. Lich and Mr. Barber, who were among the most prominent organizers of the trucker protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other public health restrictions, are charged with counselling to disobey a court order, counselling to obstruct police, and mischief that interferes with the use and enjoyment of property.
In her testimony, Ms. Leir said that during the three-week protest that began on Jan. 29, 2022, she was “overwhelmed by the trucks surrounding the church so I could not access it.” She said protesters commandeered the church’s sign stand and put their own signs on church property, and also draped some of their clothing on a statue of Jesus.
The sound of honking and the smell of diesel fumes also “infiltrated the church,” Ms. Leir testified, adding that she was upset by loud music being played through a speaker outside.
The Ottawa local also said that some of the protesters who were camped out in their trucks urinated and defecated on church property and that there was “garbage everywhere.” She said “I was sworn at in foul language” when she tried to scold them for their actions, adding that “more than once this happened to me.”
During cross-examination, the court was shown video footage of a police officer walking along Wellington Street near the church on Feb. 5. Ms. Leir acknowledged that no music or honking could be heard in the specific video but said she could hear the noise of trucks idling.
The Crown lawyers had argued that their testimonies are necessary to illustrate the scope, nature, and consequences of the protest and to “rebut” any suggestion that it was peaceful.
They’re planning to call five Ottawa residents to testify as well as the owner of a women’s clothing store and employees from the National Arts Centre and OC Transpo, the City of Ottawa’s public-transit operator.
The defence previously argued that the testimonies of the witnesses would amount to witness impact statements, which are inadmissible at this stage of the court proceedings.
When announcing her decision, Justice Perkins-McVey cited a principle in Canadian law that stipulates the Crown should be allowed to call the case as they see fit, provided that the evidence called is relevant and admissible.
