Text messages between Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, obtained by Ottawa police and introduced as evidence by the Crown at Lich’s bail hearing this week, show how well the organizers knew the perspective of the protest.
The motorcade’s association with Pat King, who has spread racist conspiracy theories, and the display of Nazi and Confederate flags in the early days of the demonstration, prompted accusations that it was sympathetic to white nationalist causes.
While planning the entourage, Lich and Barber seemed aware that racial identity could be raised in criticisms of it.  Lich has described herself as MeÌ tis, and on Jan. 20, about a week before the protesters arrived in Ottawa, Barber texted Lich that his wife was also MeÌ tis.
“It will work to our advantage,” the Lich replied.  “Playing the race card works both ways lol.”
That same day, Lich congratulated Barber on his podcast interview, describing it as very “PC” — or politically correct — “but also direct.”
Barber told Lich on Jan. 22 that all his years of “social media trolling” would pay off.  “I’m going to put it all together and use it all against them,” he said, referring to those criticizing the convoy.
The protest against COVID-19 restrictions and the Liberal government flooded the capital’s center with large trucks, blocking roads and honking their horns for more than three weeks.  Protesters also blocked several border crossings.  All this prompted the federal government to invoke emergency law and the police to use force to clear the crowd.
For their role in the protest, Lich and Barber have been charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing police, counseling others to commit mischief and intimidation.
Barber remains free on bail, while a magistrate ruled Friday that Leach violated a condition of her release and revoked her bail.
At Lich’s bail hearing this week, Barber’s attorney obtained a release ban on court documents showing his cellphone communications, except those with Lich.
Diane Magas, counsel for Barber, said the Crown’s submission may not have the full context or intent of the messages and may be misleading or inaccurately interpreted.
The 4,000-page document filed in court says it includes all the messages – numbering in the thousands – found on Barber’s phone.  Dozens are directly between Barber and Lich, not including group chats.
Lich’s attorney, Lawrence Greenspon, declined to comment on the messages outside court Friday.
Conversations between the pair seem to illuminate their changing feelings about King.  He is known for promoting the white nationalist “great replacement theory,” based on the anxiety that white people are being replaced.
King remains in an Ottawa jail on charges of malicious mischief, intimidation, obstructing police, breach of court order, perjury and obstruction of justice.
His attorney has not yet responded to requests for comment.
On Jan. 22, Lich told Barber they needed to have “a very frank discussion” with King, raising concerns about past allegations against him.
Despite these concerns, Lich also said he was needed by the movement — in apparent contrast to later statements in which the entourage sought to distance itself from King.
“We need him and I don’t care about his past, but he only needs one,” he said.  “We have to control his rhetoric.  Nor threaten to throw snowballs at parliament (sic).”
“I know he had problems.  I have skeletons in the closet to (sic),” Barber replied.
But a few days later, on January 26, Lich said if King “doesn’t stop now and now he has to go home.”
“I honestly hate doing it.  I think a part of his heart is in it for the right reasons, but he’s going to bring this whole thing down.”
On January 29, the day after the entourage arrived in the capital, Barber texted Lich about an interview King had conducted.
“I’m worried it puts us in a bad light.  Will he speak today??  I’m nervous what he’s going to say,” he said.
“No. He’s not talking. Period. We have people to look after him,” Lich said.
A text message from Lich to Barber on Jan. 30 said she received a call from “command center” that had a “strategy to lock down the city.”
“Can you go there with me soon,” he asked Barber.  “I don’t want to make these decisions alone.”
During that time, some Conservative MPs cheered the convoy’s arrival as the party opposed the Trudeau government’s vaccine mandates for federal workers and travelers.
On January 31, Tory MP Marilyn Gladu posted a photo on social media of herself and colleague Candice Bergen in a restaurant with two men who Gladu described as “hard working truckers in Ottawa.”
Erin O’Toole’s reluctance to articulate a clear position on the protest was one of the reasons a majority of his backbenchers ousted him on February 2 and replaced him with Bergen as interim leader.
A few days later, Lich wrote: “Candace Bergen (sic) wants to meet soon.  What do you think?”
Barber did not immediately respond to the question.  The next day, Lich expressed excitement at appearing in an American media outlet.
“We have to be on Fox at 6:30,” he wrote.
Christopher Martin-Chan, a spokesman for Bergen, said a meeting between convoy representatives and the interim leader ultimately did not take place.
Conservative MP Glen Motz has been speaking with Lich and was willing to act as a liaison for MPs to hear her concerns.  He suggested meetings with Public Safety Minister Marco Medicino and Transportation Minister Omar Algabra, Martin-Chan said.
Motz confirmed he spoke directly to Leach “in an effort to resolve the ongoing protest” and tried to facilitate a meeting with ministers.
“Unfortunately, after several conversations with both ministers, they refused any resolution meeting with the organizer of the protest,” he said, adding that he believed if the Liberal government had received that meeting, the protest would have been resolved differently.
Alhambra’s office said in a statement that it was “not appropriate or responsible for Canadians to meet with individuals who have blocked our borders, hurt our economy and terrorized the residents of downtown Ottawa.”
A representative for Mendicino echoed those sentiments.
After the ministers refused to meet, Motz said he tried to arrange a meeting between Lich and Bergen, which Lich’s legal team rejected as “the decision would only be beneficial if it involved the government”.
Ottawa police, assisted by police forces from across Canada, cleared protesters from the capital in a massive operation that began on February 18.