The TikToker, the fundraiser, the ex-military officer: Here are the ‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers expected to testify at Emergencies Act inquiry starting this week
For the first time during the public inquiry reviewing the federal government's decision to invoke the Emergencies Act, the people behind the so-called Freedom Convoy" protests are expected to take centre stage this week.
It comes after weeks of hearings that have seen Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, former Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly and others testify about what they knew and didn't know about the convoy that shut down the core of the nation's capital for three weeks starting in late January.
Here are the individuals from whom we're expecting to hear in the days ahead.
Brigitte Belton
Belton, a trucker from Wallaceburg, Ont., says it all started with a TikTok. When she posted a video complaining about impending vaccine mandates in January, another trucker from Saskatchewan, Chris Barber, contacted her. The two are credited with the idea of centring the protest around truckers, and organizers say Belton and Barber formed the core of the committee organizing the actual truckers." Belton told the Star in March she was not arrested or charged in relation to the protest.
James Bauder
Bauder is administrator of the website Canada Unity, which helped connect people who wanted to join the convoy. Based in Alberta, Bauder said his project, Operation Bearhug," was also opposed to restrictions but separate from the convoy. In court documents for a class-action lawsuit filed by residents against convoy organizers, he is accused of authoring a memorandum of understanding that called for the governor general and Senate to take power from the prime minister and force governments to lift all restrictions. He says the MOU was misinterpreted.
Steeve Charland
Steeve L'Artiss" Charland is a Quebec man identified as the spokesperson for a group called Les Farfadaas," which was formed to oppose pandemic restrictions. He was charged with mischief and counselling to commit mischief. Before his arrest, he'd posted a video on his Facebook page that said he was meeting with other convoy organizers to discuss certain plans."
Patrick King
King, from Red Deer, Alta., joined the convoy after its inception and is accused by other organizers, including Bauder, of steering the convoy in a dangerous direction by encouraging protesters to occupy Ottawa's streets. King is facing charges including mischief, counselling mischief and intimidation. Other protest organizers gradually distanced themselves from King.
Benjamin Dichter
Dichter, based in Toronto, is described in court documents as one of the Freedom Convoy's official spokespeople. He previously ran as a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada. He is a director of the Freedom 2022 Human Rights and Freedom non-profit corporation. In January, he appeared on Fox News and accused the Canadian government of tracking" people's phones.
Tom Marazzo
Marazzo, from Amherstview, Ont., is described as one of the organizers of the Freedom Convoy who used his past experience as a military officer in the Canadian Armed Forces to provide military skills and training to supporters, including logistics, co-ordination and tactical planning.
Chris Barber
Brigitte Belton told the Star that Barber, from Swift Current, Sask., was one of the first people to contact her after she posted her TikTok video about vaccine mandates. She later accused him of co-opting" the movement for political purposes. Barber owns a trucking company in Saskatchewan. He faces four charges related to the protests, including counselling mischief and to obstruct police. He is expected to stand trial in September 2023.
Tamara Lich
Lich became one of them most recognizable faces of the Freedom Convoy" due to her frequent appearances as a spokesperson and her role managing its GoFundMe page. Other organizers have described her as a fundraiser or accountant. Charges against her include mischief, counselling to commit mischief, counselling to commit intimidation, counselling to obstruct police and counselling to obstruct one or more highways. Lich is expected to stand trial in September 2023 along with Barber.
With files from Alex McKeen, Alex Ballingall and The Canadian Press
Omar Mosleh is an Edmonton-based reporter for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @OmarMosleh