Freedom Convoy organizers Lich, Barber facing new charges
Prominent organizers of the 'Freedom Convoy' occupation of downtown Ottawa are facing new criminal charges.
Tamara Lich and Chris Barber are now jointly charged with mischief, counselling mischief, intimidation, counselling intimidation, counselling obstruction of police and obstructing police.
Both were arrested on Feb. 17, a day before police began moving in to clear demonstrators from downtown Ottawa streets.
Barber was released on bail the next day. Lich was released on bail on March 7.
Barber had previously been charged with counselling to commit mischief, counselling to disobey a court order, counselling to obstruct police and mischief. Lich was previously charged with counselling mischief.
Another prominent leader of the protest, Pat King, is also facing new charges after appearing in court Thursday afternoon.
King, who remains in custody at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre, now faces 10 charges along with a co-accused, Tyson George Billings. Those include two counts each of intimidation and obstructing police.
The three-week occupation cost the city of Ottawa an estimated $36.6 million, the majority of which was for the police response.
A parliamentary committee heard Thursday that the OPP identified the demonstration as a national security threat one week before the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act.
- with files from Glen McGregor, CTV National News
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Special rapporteur Johnston rejects call to 'step aside' after majority of MPs vote for him to resign
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to assure Canadians that his government is adequately addressing the threat of foreign interference took a hit on Wednesday, when the majority of MPs in the House of Commons voted for special rapporteur David Johnston to 'step aside,' a call Johnston quickly rejected.
UPDATED
UPDATED | 'I heard a cracking noise': 16 children, 1 adult injured in platform collapse at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar
Seventeen people – most of whom are young students – were hospitalized after a falling from a height during a field trip at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar. However, many of the children are now being discharged and sent home, according to an update from the hospital.
Federal Court of Appeal: Canada not constitutionally obligated to bring home suspected ISIS fighters
The Government of Canada has won its appeal and will not be legally forced to repatriate four Canadian men from prisons in Northeast Syria.
What you may not have known about bladder cancer
Although bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Canada, experts say there’s a significant lack of awareness surrounding whom it affects the most — statistically, men — and that the most common risk factor is smoking.
Canada is first to require health warnings printed on individual cigarettes
Canada will soon require health warnings to be printed directly on individual cigarettes, making it the first country to implement this kind of measure aimed at reducing tobacco usage.
Study identifies the rise and fall of lifestyle habits during pandemic
More than three years after COVID was declared a global pandemic, a new study is looking at how the international health crisis has changed the lifestyle habits of Canadians.
Ottawa sends minister to Nigeria inauguration after accusing party of terror link
A year after arguing Nigeria's ruling party is responsible for terrorist acts, the Trudeau government has sent a cabinet minister to celebrate the swearing-in of its new president.
What slowdown? Economy outperforms, raising odds of a rate hike
The Canadian economy grew faster than expected in the first three months of the year and likely expanded again in April, fuelling speculation that the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates again.
Canada saw decline in fresh fruit, vegetable availability in 2022: StatCan
Statistics Canada says fewer fresh fruits and vegetables were available to Canadians in 2022, due to factors such as ongoing supply chain issues, labour shortages and price increases.
Atlantic
-
Halifax requests federal assistance as out-of-control wildfire burns
The Halifax mayor is asking for help from the federal government as a wildfire burns in the city’s northwest.
-
'We've lost it all': Halifax-area woman in limbo after losing her home to wildfire
Molly Deveau is finding comfort where she can after learning her home was destroyed in an ongoing wildfire northwest of Halifax.
-
Shelburne County wildfire still out of control as schools close, thousands evacuate
An out-of-control wildfire in Nova Scotia’s Shelburne County has forced officials to close all public schools in the area.
Toronto
-
Engaged couple shot dead days before moving out of house near Hamilton
An engaged couple was shot dead while fleeing their landlord near Hamilton just days before they were scheduled to move out of their apartment.
-
Ontario's summer forecast revealed. It might not be what you were hoping for
Ontarians could be looking at a 'love it or leave it' kind of summer this year with below normal temperatures forecast, The Weather Network says.
-
Toronto Maple Leafs hire Brad Treliving as team's new GM
The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Brad Treliving to be the team's new general manager. The team made the announcement Wednesday, less than two weeks after firing Kyle Dubas.
Montreal
-
5 changes in Quebec's Bill 96 that come into effect June 1
Last year, Quebec’s Bill 96 became law, which brought sweeping changes to the Charter of the French language. Sections of the new law will come into effect on June 1, the one-year anniversary of the bill receiving royal assent.
-
HEAT WAVE
HEAT WAVE | Here's how you can identify heat stroke and prevent serious symptoms
Some communities in Quebec are expected to get record-high temperatures and Environment Canada has issued several weather warnings and watches for heat. Dr. Christopher Labos spoke to CTV News anchor Mutsumi Takahashi about heat and sunstroke and tips for preventing serious consequences in the sun.
-
Quebec judge calls out 'shocking' state failure after man slays spouse in psychotic delirium
Louise Avon, brutally murdered on March 31, 2022 in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts by her husband in the throes of a crack-induced psychotic delirium, might still be alive if Quebec hadn't "failed miserably in its role of protecting the public."
Northern Ontario
-
3 girls now charged in assault, kidnapping investigation in Huntsville
Huntsville OPP has charged a third girl in connection to an alleged assault captured on video at a local high school and shared on social media earlier this month.
-
Northern Ont. town on the brink of evacuation as out-of-control wildfire grows
Forest fires in northern Ontario are on the rise, with the largest in the region shutting down a critical highway for the people of Hornepayne for a bit and bringing the community to the brink of evacuation.
-
'Mortifying': Toronto woman says restaurant shamed her for ordering too much food
A Toronto woman says she was shamed for the size of her order at a sushi restaurant north of the city in a scathing review posted to social media that’s been viewed more than 1.4 million times.
London
-
Minivan careens through entrance of florist shop in west London, Ont.
No injuries were reported after a minivan careened through the front entrance of a florist shop in the west end of the city early Wednesday afternoon.
-
Overhaul of school boundaries recommended by TVDSB
The final report of Thames Valley District School Board’s largest attendance review in decades has been given final recommendations by the board.
-
Looking for something fun to do on PD Day? Here’s what is being offered in the Forest City
Friday marks PD Day in London, Ont., and with kids having the day off school, parents might be wondering what they can do to keep their kids occupied. From science experiments, to scavenger hunts and swimming, here are some of the activities at play across the city.
Winnipeg
-
UPDATED
UPDATED | 'I heard a cracking noise': 16 children, 1 adult injured in platform collapse at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar
Seventeen people – most of whom are young students – were hospitalized after a falling from a height during a field trip at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar. However, many of the children are now being discharged and sent home, according to an update from the hospital.
-
Health Canada warning about life-threatening risks of water beads
Canadians are being warned about the potentially life-threatening risk of water beads for young children.
-
Storm brought funnel cloud, dime-sized hail to parts of Manitoba
A thunderstorm on Tuesday brought heavy rain, a funnel cloud and dime-sized hail to parts of Manitoba on Tuesday.
Kitchener
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Emergency crews respond to fire in Kitchener
Around six fire trucks, including an aerial truck, are on scene at a fire on Green Valley Drive in Kitchener.
-
'Thank God my kids were not outside': Driver charged after car crashes through 3 Kitchener, Ont. backyards
A 72-year-old from Kitchener has been charged with careless driving after a vehicle careened off Highland Road West and smashed through the backyards of three homes on Ralgreen Crescent in Kitchener Tuesday afternoon.
-
Crash takes out part of pedestrian overpass in downtown Kitchener
Police closed a section of Charles Street in downtown Kitchener Wednesday after a garbage truck took out part of an overhead pedestrian bridge.
Calgary
-
Sentencing arguments in hit-and-run death of Calgary police officer to be rescheduled
Sentencing arguments in hit-and-run death of Calgary police officer to be rescheduled
-
UPDATED
UPDATED | 'I heard a cracking noise': 16 children, 1 adult injured in platform collapse at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar
Seventeen people – most of whom are young students – were hospitalized after a falling from a height during a field trip at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar. However, many of the children are now being discharged and sent home, according to an update from the hospital.
-
Calgary's 4th Street Lilac Festival returns this weekend
One of Calgary's most iconic street festivals takes place this weekend.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon waste collection truck goes up in flames
A Saskatoon waste collection truck started on fire Wednesday morning in the city’s north end.
-
Saskatoon police release footage connected to murder case
Saskatoon police have released video footage they hope will help in a murder investigation.
-
'It was a rite of passage': Sask. group comes together to save a nostalgic drive-in theatre
One of Saskatchewan’s last remaining drive-in movie theatres will be opening this season after months of uncertainty.
Edmonton
-
Man who attacked Edmonton mom in front of her kids has sentence reduced by 5 years
A man who slammed an Edmonton mother to the ground and strangled her outside of a downtown daycare in 2021 has had his nine-year prison sentence reduced to four years.
-
2 more charged with first-degree murder in northeast Edmonton 2020 death
Two more people have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Aaron Watt in northeast Edmonton in 2020.
-
Teenage boy dead after dirt bike crash near Alberta-Saskatchewan border
A teenage boy is dead after a crash involving a dirt bike east of Edmonton on Tuesday.
Vancouver
-
'Had I stayed at Surrey, my baby would have die': New mother details harrowing child birth
More horror stories are emerging from Surrey Memorial Hospital, as a series of public letters written by frontline staff continue to highlight the perils of staff shortages.
-
Family of Madison Scott seeks answers after B.C. woman found dead, 12 years after disappearance
After the remains of Madison Scott were identified this week, exactly 12 years after the B.C. woman went missing, her family says they’re still looking for answers and closure.
-
Man killed in West End stabbing identified
Police have identified the man who was fatally stabbed in Vancouver’s West End last weekend as 43-year-old Jonathan James Bulloch.
Regina
-
Woman hit from behind by truck in Regina, police asking for help in finding driver
The Regina Police Service (RPS) is asking for help in finding a driver who hit a woman with a truck from behind on Monday.
-
Sask. wildfire flare-up forces evacuations
People have been forced to flee northern Saskatchewan communities due to wildfire smoke.
-
Construction resumes at Regina airport following worker's death
Work is slowly getting back underway following an incident that left a construction worker dead at Regina International Airport.