OTTAWA, Ontario — In a significant legal ruling, two primary organizers of the 2022 trucker protests in Canada, specifically targeting COVID-19 restrictions, have been found guilty of mischief. This decision was made public on Thursday by Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey.

Tamara Lich and Chris Barber emerged as pivotal figures during the protests, which saw hundreds of trucks and thousands of individuals flood the streets of downtown Ottawa. Protesters were adamant in their demands, vowing to remain until the public health mandates surrounding COVID-19 were completely repealed. The origins of the protests can be traced back to a vaccine mandate imposed by the Canadian government specifically aimed at truck drivers making crossings between the United States and Canada, a requirement that many in the trucking community found unacceptable.

The protests, which took place in February 2022, became widely known as the Freedom Convoy. They attracted attention not just domestically but also internationally, inspiring similar movements in countries such as France, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. The massive demonstration effectively turned downtown Ottawa into a staging ground for dissent against vaccine mandates and other health precautions, along with a vocal condemnation of then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal administration.

Justice Perkins-McVey, in her ruling, highlighted that both Lich and Barber actively encouraged individuals to join or remain engaged in the protest, despite being fully aware of the detrimental impacts their actions were having on local residents and businesses. The protests led to a significant disruption in daily life, with complaints from residents mounting about the incessant noise from honking horns and the fumes from idling truck engines, which created an unbearable atmosphere.

In their defense, Lich and Barber insisted they had called for a peaceful protest and sought to deflect blame for any ensuing disorder onto law enforcement and municipal authorities. However, the judge found them guilty of mischief, while also acquitting them of several other charges, including intimidation and obstruction of police activities.

Barber faced additional scrutiny and was found guilty of counseling disobedience against a court order when he encouraged rally participants to ignore a judicial injunction that prohibited the incessant honking of truck horns in downtown Ottawa.

The protests extended their reach beyond Ottawa, with demonstrators also blockading critical U.S.-Canada border crossings, further complicating economic activities. Notably, the Windsor-Detroit crossing, which is the busiest link between the two nations and accounts for over 25% of their trade, experienced significant disruptions for nearly a week.

In response to the escalating situation, Prime Minister Trudeau's government was compelled to invoke the Emergencies Act, a measure designed to restore order and facilitate the end of the protests. This intervention included deploying hundreds of officers from various police agencies across Canada to ensure public safety and restore normalcy.

The Freedom Convoy significantly challenged Canada’s longstanding reputation for civility in public discourse and governance, leaving a lasting impact on the country's political landscape and sparking discussions about the limits of protest, civil liberties, and government authority in times of crisis.