Mischief managed, eh? Canada’s trucker convoy leaders stand trial

A supporter during the 4th Day of Trucker's protest in 2022 against the mandatory vaccine policy imposed on the Canadian truckers returning from USA
A supporter during the 4th Day of Trucker's protest in 2022 against the mandatory vaccine policy imposed on the Canadian truckers returning from USA
Remember when 500 truck drivers upended Canada’s reputation of unwavering politeness to protest COVID policies back in Feb. 2022? Ottawa sure does, and it has put the leaders of the so-called “Freedom Convoy” – which gridlocked the capital for weeks over quarantine mandates for unvaccinated truckers – on trial for alleged charges of mischief and counseling others to commit mischief.

Yes, mischief is a criminal offense in Canada. It includes willfully destroying property or making it dangerous or impossible to use. But this case is bigger than the violation of a silly-named law; it has ties to the polarizing issue of vaccine mandates and implications for freedom of speech and assembly.

A recap: Upset about a federal law requiring unvaccinated drivers to quarantine when returning from the US, the truckers paralyzed Ottawa, snarling the streets around Parliament for three weeks. They also blockaded the Ambassador Bridge – the busiest international border crossing in North America. The Canadian government deemed it an “occupation,” prompting Trudeau to implement the Emergency Act for the first time in Canada’s history. This allowed the police to clear the streets, impose temporary bans on public assembly, and freeze protesters’ bank accounts. It also galvanized far-right activists on both sides of the border and inspired similar protests from Washington, DC, to New Zealand.

The convoy leaders, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, pleaded not guilty to charges that could land them 10-year sentences. They argue that taking part in a peaceful demonstration does not warrant criminal action, but prosecutors highlight the disruption to city residents and cross-border trade. The outcome will likely impact an upcoming protester trial in November.

What do you think? Do the protests justify criminal charges? Let us know here.

More from GZERO Media

After voters elected her to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, liberal candidate Judge Susan Crawford celebrates with Wisconsin Supreme Court Judge Ann Walsh Bradley at her election night headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin, on April 1, 2025.

REUTERS/Vincent Alban

Republicans expanded their lean House majority after a pair of special elections in Florida, but a conservative candidate lost badly in a Wisconsin judicial race — despite a huge cash injection from Elon Musk.

- YouTube

If China, Japan, and South Korea formed a united front, what kind of leverage would they have in negotiating against US tariffs? I think they are heading in that trajectory. The question is, will it be enough to keep Syria stable and away from descending into civil war? Why does Trump want to take Greenland? Ian Bremmer shares his insights on global politics this week on World In :60.

President Donald Trump, seen here on the South Lawn of the White House in February, is set to unveil his "Liberation Day" tariffs.

REUTERS/Craig Hudson

T-Day has arrived. On Wednesday afternoon, Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs on US trade partners will take effect immediately after a Rose Garden announcement.

A giant screen in Beijing shows news footage about the People's Liberation Army (PLA) joint army, navy, air and rocket forces drills around Taiwan on April 1, 2025.
REUTERS/Florence Lo

Beijing conducted one of the largest and most provocative military drills ever around the island -- but why now?

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a briefing, Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 28, 2025.
Ukrinform/ABACA via Reuters Connect

Vladimir Putin insists that Volodymyr Zelensky is no longer Ukraine’s legitimate president because his government has imposed martial law and delayed elections that were due in 2024.

President Donald Trump speaks from the Oval Office flanked by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on the day he signed executive orders for reciprocal tariffs, Feb. 13, 2025.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Details of a group chat between senior administration officials that leaked last week – the so-called Houthi PC small group – provide allies, adversaries, and watchers with revealing insights into the administration’s foreign policy blueprint. Lindsay Newman explores the takeaways.

Proud Source became a Walmart supplier in 2021. Today, its team has grown by 50%, and it's the largest employer in Mackay, ID. Walmart supports small businesses across the country, and nearly two-thirds of Walmart's product spend is on products made, grown, or assembled in America. It’s all a part of Walmart’s $350 billion investment in US manufacturing, which helps small businesses grow and supports US jobs. Learn more about Walmart’s commitment to US manufacturing.