Pat King from the “Freedom Convoy” receives a 12-month prison sentence

Pat King, one of the prominent figures of the “Freedom Convoy”, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for his role in the events of 2022.

The judge followed the defense’s recommendation by granting a nine-month credit for his preventive detention, forcing him to serve the remaining three months in home detention. 

The Crown, on its part, was demanding a much harsher sentence, going up to 10 years in prison.

King was found guilty in November 2024 of multiple charges, including mischief, incitement to commit mischief, obstruction of police, and disobedience to a court order.

The court found that he had played a key role in coordinating the massive honking of truckers in Ottawa, significantly disrupting the lives of downtown residents.

King had already spent five months in detention before his conditional release, but had been reincarcerated for violating a court order by using social media.

Between January and February 2022, thousands of protesters occupied downtown Ottawa, protesting against the health measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In light of the scale of the blockade, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergency Measures Act, the first time since the October Crisis of 1970, in order to disperse the protesters and restore order.

The protests also had major economic repercussions, disrupting trade between Canada and the United States, particularly through the blockage of strategic border crossings.

In addition to Pat King, other prominent figures in the Freedom Convoy were charged, including Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, who were prosecuted for mischief, intimidation and incitement to break the law.

The verdict regarding Lich and Barber, organizers of the “freedom convoy,” is expected on March 12, 2025, and could establish an important legal precedent regarding the limits of protests in Canada.