Tamara Lich speaks to CHAT News when the convoy came through Medicine Hat on Jan. 24, 2022. (CHAT News File Photo)

By Canadian Press

Bail denied for protest leader Tamara Lich

Feb 22, 2022 | 2:21 AM

Update at 7:30 am MST February 22

OTTAWA – Tamara Lich, one of the key organizers of the anti-vaccine mandate protests in Ottawa, has been denied bail.

An Ontario court judge issued the decision in Ottawa this morning, saying she was not convinced Lich, who is from Medicine Hat, would not reoffend.

A separate bail hearing is scheduled this morning for fellow protest organizer Pat King.

Lich was arrested last Thursday and charged with counselling to commit mischief and promised during a bail hearing on Saturday to give up her advocacy of the protest and return to Alberta.

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Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois reserved her bail decision on Lich until today.

King, 44, was arrested on Friday and faces charges of mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobeying a court order and counselling to obstruct police.

(The Canadian Press)

OTTAWA — An Ottawa judge is expected to decide today whether to grant bail to Tamara Lich, one of the leading organizers behind protest against COVID-19 restrictions and the Liberal government on Parliament Hill.

Lich, who was arrested last Thursday and charged with counselling to commit mischief, appeared before Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois in a bail hearing on Saturday.

During that hearing, Lich promised to give up her advocacy of the protest and return to Alberta. The judge reserved her bail decision on Lich.

Patrick King, another prominent figure connected to the demonstrations, is also scheduled for a bail hearing today in Ottawa.

King, 44, was arrested on Friday and faces charges of mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobeying a court order and counselling to obstruct police.

The bail hearings are scheduled to take place the day after the House of Commons voted to support the government’s use of measures under the Emergencies Act.

The Liberal government gained the support of New Democrats to get the measures approved.

The Senate is scheduled to start its own debate today on the measures.

Ottawa police said in a statement Monday that officers have made 196 arrests, with 110 facing a variety of charges.

Ottawa police also said 115 vehicles connected to the protest have been towed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2022.

The Canadian Press