Tamara Lich to sue Ottawa police, Crown attorney for ‘malicious prosecution’

OTTAWA (LifeSiteNews) — Freedom Convoy leader Tamara Lich, who was jailed for weeks over her role in opposing COVID mandates, said she will be suing the Ottawa Police, a Crown prosecutor, and others for “malicious prosecution & negligent investigation.”

Lich announced the lawsuit on Tuesday via an X post, in which she said it was her “Stand Against Malicious Prosecution and Negligent Investigation.”

“I’m pleased to announce that I have filed a lawsuit against the Ottawa Police, the Crown prosecutor, and others for malicious prosecution & negligent investigation because this isn’t just about me; it’s about stopping this kind of abuse so no Canadian ever faces it again,” she wrote.

My Stand Against Malicious Prosecution and Negligent Investigation:

Over 4 years have passed since the peaceful Freedom Convoy which saw many truckers and supporters, including Chris Barber and myself, arrested on the streets of Ottawa. What followed was the longest mischief…

— Tamara Lich 🇨🇦 (@LichTamara) April 28, 2026

Lich noted that her lawsuit will be a “daunting undertaking” and has started a GiveSendGo campaign to “help fund the fight,” which she said will involve a $25,000 retainer and costs estimated at around $100,000.

Her statement of claim was filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and lists the Ottawa Police, some of their personnel, the Crown prosecutor, and the Attorney General of Ontario.

Lich noted how she and Chris Barber, who is not listed in the statement of claim, were subjected to the “longest mischief trial in the history of the Commonwealth.”

“Both of us were convicted of mischief for our part in the most peaceful and polite protest of all time, and sentenced to 18 months of house arrest.”

On October 7, 2025, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey sentenced Lich and Barber to 18 months’ house arrest after they were convicted earlier in the year of “mischief.”

Lich was given 18 months less time already spent in custody, amounting to 15 1/2 months.

Lich and Barber were declared guilty of “mischief” for their roles as leaders of the protest against COVID mandates in April 2022, and as social media influencers. The conviction came after a nearly two-year trial despite the non-violent nature of the popular movement.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, both Lich and Barber have filed appeals of their own against their house arrest sentences, arguing that the trial judge did not correctly apply the law on their mischief charges.

Lich recounts being shackled and treated like ‘violent criminal’

Lich noted that when she went to pick up an award from the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), which she said was allowed under her bail conditions, a Canada-wide arrest warrant was issued against her.

“There was no investigation. No call to my lawyer. It was issued like I was a violent criminal,” she said.

“Homicide detectives flew me back to Ottawa in leg shackles, I lost my job, precious time with my family, was denied bail, and spent 30 days in remand. All for a non-violent mischief case,” she said.

In early 2022, the Freedom Convoy saw thousands of Canadians from coast to coast come to Ottawa to demand an end to COVID mandates in all forms. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, Trudeau’s federal government enacted the Emergencies Act in mid-February.

Trudeau had disparaged Canadians who chose not to get the COVID shots, saying that opposing his measures were of a “small, fringe minority” who hold “unacceptable views” and do not “represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other.”

After the protesters were cleared out, which was achieved through the freezing of bank accounts of those involved without a court order, as well as the physical removal and arrest of demonstrators, Trudeau revoked the Emergencies Act on February 23, 2022.

At the time, seven of Canada’s 10 provinces opposed Trudeau’s use of the EA.

As reported by LifeSiteNews in January, the Canadian Federal Court of Appeal affirmed in a ruling that Trudeau’s use of the Emergencies Act was illegal.

In essence, the appeals court upheld a 2024 ruling by Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley that Trudeau’s use of the Emergencies Act was “not justified.”

Despite this, the Canadian government will appeal the decision.