Justice Heather Perkins-McVey of the Ontario Court of Justice on Tuesday sentenced Tamara Lich and Chris Barber for their roles in the “Freedom Convoy” protest that blocked the streets of Ottawa in 2022. Justice Perkins-McVey sentenced both to an 18-month conditional sentence, consisting of 12 months of house arrest followed by six months under curfew.

Crown prosecutors sought seven years’ imprisonment for Lich and eight years for Barber. Lich’s lawyer said he was pleased with the outcome as their main objective was to avoid jail time. He further commented that his client was still considering appealing the conviction altogether. When giving her reasons, Justice Perkins-McVey stated her sentence was meant to deter illegal behavior without chilling political protest in the future, according to local reports.

The two were convicted in a separate case for criminal mischief related to the convoy in April. Mischief is the defined in the criminal code as when someone willfully “obstructs, interrupts or interferes with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property.” In some cases, mischief can result in a conviction of ten years’ imprisonment.

The charges stem from major 2022 protests in Canada against the government’s COVID-19 vaccine policies. Thousands of long-haul truckers, calling themselves the “Freedom Convoy,” parked their trucks in front of the Parliament and prime minister’s office, blocking the streets in Ottawa for weeks. The truckers were considered a major disturbance to the Ottawa downtown core, continuously sounding truck horns that honked throughout the day and night.

This led to the government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act, which allows placing restrictions on protest. A federal court later ruled this use of the Emergencies Act unlawful. Nonetheless, prosecutors brought charges against Lich and Barber as well as other leaders of the Freedom Convoy.