Chris Barber, one of the principal organizers of the so-called “freedom convoy,” is being released on bail on the conditions that he imminently leaves Ottawa and no longer supports the downtown blockades.Barber was released from police custody after a court hearing in Ottawa late Friday afternoon.His bail bond is set at $100,000, with his wife set as a surety.
He is instructed to leave the city within 24 hours and the province of Ontario within five days.He must also, under the order of Justice Julie Bourgeois, no longer directly or indirectly support the ongoing blockades in downtown Ottawa, which police launched operations to clear earlier in the day on Friday.
As it happened: Police push to remove Ottawa’s convoy blockades The only exception is to pay for some gas from his own funds to any truckers that follow him back to his hometown.Barber, a trucker from Saskatchewan, told the court that he was no longer interested in orchestrating any blockades, despite being one of the primary leaders of the so-called “freedom convoy.”“My organizing days are done.
I just want to go home,” he said.Bourgeois said she was satisfied that he was genuine in his desire to head home and there was no “substantial likelihood” that he would commit any criminal offence if released.Barber was arrested Thursday and was charged with counselling to commit mischief, to disobey a court order and to obstruct police.