Ottawa, Canada — Freedom Convoy leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber have been given conditional sentences following their convictions for offences related to the 2022 trucker protests that paralyzed downtown Ottawa.

Both activists were found guilty of mischief, while Barber was also convicted of counselling others to disobey a court order. Several other charges were dismissed.

On Tuesday, the pair received 18-month conditional sentences:

• 12 months of house arrest with limited weekly outings,

• followed by 6 months under a 10 p.m. curfew.

Lich received credit for 19 days spent in jail and 30 days in custody for a prior bail breach. Both Lich and Barber must complete 100 hours of community service.

Crown Sought Prison Terms

The sentences mark the end of a long legal process that followed the Freedom Convoy protests—a weeks-long demonstration against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and pandemic restrictions that shut down parts of Ottawa’s core in early 2022.

During sentencing hearings in July, Crown prosecutor Siobhain Wetscher urged the court to impose unusually heavy penalties: eight years for Barber and seven years for Lich, citing the protests’ widespread disruption and public impact.

Justice Heather Perkins-McVey opted instead for a conditional sentence, saying incarceration was unnecessary given time already served and the conditions imposed.

Background of the Case

The Freedom Convoy began as a protest against federal vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers but quickly grew into a broader movement opposing pandemic restrictions. Protesters parked trucks throughout Ottawa’s downtown for weeks, honking horns, blocking streets, and drawing nationwide attention.

The federal government invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history to clear the protests.

Lawyers for both defendants argued their clients acted in good faith and should not face jail time. Lich’s lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, said his client was motivated by principle, not malice.

“They stood up for thousands who believed their freedoms had been compromised by government mandates,” Greenspon said. “Tamara came to Ottawa with the best of intentions.”

Barber’s lawyer, Diane Magas, described the Crown’s call for an eight-year sentence as “abusive.”

Despite the polarizing nature of the protests, Tuesday’s ruling brings a degree of closure to one of Canada’s most controversial political movements in recent memory.

Montreal, Quebec — A large pro-Palestinian protest outside Concordia University’s Henry F. Hall Building on Tuesday led the institution to close its downtown Montreal campus for the day amid heavy police presence.

By 1 p.m., demonstrators — many wearing keffiyehs and carrying flags — gathered at the intersection of Mackay Street and de Maisonneuve Boulevard, where dozens of police officers stood guard. The protest was one of several coordinated demonstrations across the city, as tens of thousands of Montreal students from universities and CEGEPs joined a strike in solidarity with Palestinians killed in Israeli military operations in Gaza over the past two years.

Earlier Tuesday morning, Concordia President Graham Carr announced the campus shutdown to prevent “potentially obstructive” incidents and ensure safety.

“Unless already scheduled, faculty may choose to switch to remote delivery, if feasible,” Carr wrote in an email to students. “In the last two years, we have seen protests on campus but have never been forced to enact such preventive measures.”

Carr said the decision aimed to protect the university community, as hundreds of outside protesters and possible counter-protesters were expected to converge downtown in the afternoon.

Background and Broader Context

Tuesday marks the two-year anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack in southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and led to the capture of 250 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has resulted in more than 67,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and has sparked ongoing international scrutiny.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, following allegations of war crimes and genocide — claims that Israel has strongly denied.

Recent Tensions and Arrests

A day earlier, two individuals were arrested during a separate protest outside Concordia — one for allegedly assaulting a security guard, the other for mischief after pulling a fire alarm. Police later confirmed that neither was affiliated with the university.

Concordia officials expect more demonstrations later today, including one near Square-Victoria–OACI Metro Station. Police remain deployed around key downtown areas to prevent further unrest.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.

Edgewood, British Columbia — Financial troubles are mounting for Universal Ostrich Farms Inc., a high-profile ostrich farm in southeastern B.C., as creditors attempt to intercept potential Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) compensation tied to a possible cull of more than 300 birds due to avian flu.

The CFIA ordered the destruction of the flock last December after detecting the virus, but the farm’s owners—Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski—are fighting the decision in court. As the Supreme Court of Canada reviews their appeal, creditors are seeking court orders to garnishee any government payouts if the cull proceeds.

“It’s a very unique situation,” said lawyer Steven Cope, representing two Fort St. John businessmen who secured a $140,000 judgment against Universal Ostrich Farms. “The only assets they have are two-legged animals under quarantine facing a death penalty.”

A Farm in Legal and Financial Turmoil

Court filings show Universal Ostrich Farms owes more than $250,000 to multiple creditors. Despite judgments in their favour, lenders say they’ve received little or no repayment. Cope confirmed his clients have already garnisheed the farm’s bank accounts, which were empty, and served legal notice to the CFIA—though the agency says no compensation is yet due.

Farm owners Espersen and Bilinski insist the financial disputes are separate from their legal battle with the CFIA.

“These civil matters are unrelated to the CFIA’s actions,” the pair said in an email. “All funds raised are used transparently toward legal costs and the care of the ostriches during quarantine.”

Their website shows nearly 2,000 donors contributing over $131,000 toward a goal of $200,000 to fund the farm’s legal defence and animal care.

Lawsuits and Unpaid Debts

One creditor, Rudi George, along with Roman Stadler, sued Universal in 2023 after supplying $126,399 worth of ostriches but receiving only $5,000 in return. Another, David Goranson, loaned $60,000 to fund expansion, later obtaining a judgment for more than $80,000 when the debt went unpaid. A third, Ariton Talica, who invested in six breeding ostriches in 2017, says he also plans to garnishee the CFIA after securing a $30,677 judgment.

“If the government doesn’t kill the birds, the creditors will,” Talica said. “They’re going to be slaughtered anyway—they’re not being raised as pets.”

Avian Flu, Research Claims, and Court Tensions

In their filings, Espersen and Bilinski argue that destroying the flock would cause severe economic harm, claiming their operations shifted from meat and tourism toward scientific research on ostrich antibodies with a Japanese collaborator known as Dr. Ostrich.

However, CFIA countered that the farm offered no proof of a profitable antibody business, calling the claims “speculative.” The appeal court nonetheless recognized that a full cull could cause serious financial loss.

Under the Health of Animals Act, farms may be compensated up to $3,000 per bird, but only if they comply with CFIA directives. For now, both sides—and the creditors—are waiting on the Supreme Court’s decision that will determine whether the ostriches live or die, and who, if anyone, gets paid.

Longueuil, Quebec — Police in Longueuil are asking for the public’s help to identify a person of interest captured on surveillance video in connection with a newborn baby found abandoned on a doorstep over the weekend.

The Service de police de l’agglomération de Longueuil (SPAL) released the footage on Tuesday, showing an individual walking down a sidewalk appearing to hold a baby in their arms.

“The person appears to be holding the child in their arms at the time of recording,” said Jacqueline Pierre, SPAL spokesperson. “This person may have crucial information that could help us assist the mother and/or father.”

According to police, around 11 p.m. on Sunday, someone rang the doorbell of a home on Bourgeoys Street and fled. The residents discovered a newborn wrapped in a blanket with the umbilical cord still attached and immediately called 911. Officers and paramedics arrived quickly, providing first aid before taking the infant to hospital, where he was reported to be in good health.

On Monday, Longueuil police began a door-to-door search for witnesses or security camera footage that could help identify the individual seen in the video. Investigators also conducted checks in Marguerite Bourgeoys Park, which was temporarily closed to the public.

At a press briefing, Pierre made a direct appeal to the parents.

“We understand that you are going through an extremely difficult time,” she said. “Our priority is your well-being — both physical and mental.”

She urged the mother who recently gave birth and the other parent to seek immediate medical attention, emphasizing the department’s compassion and concern for their health.

SPAL spokesperson Mélanie Mercille told Radio-Canada that the baby was born at 34 weeks, and that public tips helped guide investigators to potential leads.

Authorities are asking anyone who recognizes the person in the video or has information about the case to contact Longueuil police.

Ottawa, Canada — Border officers say a recent Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) system outage may have caused potential security flags to be missed for truck drivers entering from the United States.

The technical failure, which began on September 28, left officers unable to access key data, forcing them to process travellers manually. According to Mark Weber, national president of the Customs and Immigration Union, the outage meant officers had no access to security lookouts or alerts while trucks continued crossing into Canada.

“When the system is down, we’re not getting the information on potential security lookouts or flags,” Weber said, adding that by the time data became available, “the trucks were already inside the country.”

The CBSA confirmed the outage lasted about 48 hours and led to delays of up to 38 hours for commercial trucks. The agency said the issue stemmed from technical problems during routine maintenance and was not a cyberattack.

Weber, echoing concerns from the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), urged the federal government to modernize the border agency’s aging IT systems. “The system officers use is from the ’90s and prone to outages. I think this was one of the worst ones we’ve seen,” he said.

Following the incident, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc ordered the CBSA to submit a report within 30 days, outlining the cause of the disruption and plans to prevent future occurrences. The CTA welcomed the decision, noting that with trade tensions and upcoming CUSMA negotiations, reliable cross-border systems are crucial.

“We hope this report finally addresses long-standing concerns from the trade community. This type of disruption cannot happen again,” said Lak Shoan, CTA’s director of policy and industry awareness.

Impact on Logistics and Trade

The outage also created operational chaos for trucking companies. Steve Ondejko, CEO of Onfreight Logistics in Tecumseh, Ontario, said one of his trucks was delayed for over five hours on the U.S. side of the Ambassador Bridge.

“It was a huge problem adding multiple hours for multiple trucks,” Ondejko said. “It created operational havoc.”

He explained that such breakdowns, though rare, cause significant financial strain by forcing companies to deploy additional drivers and vehicles to meet delivery schedules.

Ondejko highlighted that while infrastructure like the Gordie Howe International Bridge will improve logistics, technological efficiency at border checkpoints remains vital. “A fantastic bridge is great, but if you can’t move the trucks through efficiently, it defeats the purpose,” he added.

The CBSA outage has reignited calls for major investment in digital border infrastructure to ensure security, trade stability, and smoother Canada-U.S. cross-border movement.

Halifax, Nova Scotia — In the ongoing manslaughter trial over the Christmas Eve 2022 death of Ryan Sawyer, court hearings on Monday revealed chilling testimonies from law enforcement and family.

Constable Jairus Lamphier, the first witness called by the prosecution, recounted how he intervened to break a chokehold applied by Alexander Pishori Levy, a former security officer at the Halifax Alehouse. According to Lamphier, Levy had Sawyer pinned on the ground, turning purple and remaining limp, unresponsive to verbal commands. After several demands, the officer grabbed Levy’s arm, forcing him to release the chokehold. Sawyer’s eyes were rolled back, and his tongue was swollen and protruding when separated.

Once freed, officers immediately began CPR before transporting Sawyer to hospital, where he later died. Levy has entered a not-guilty plea, and faces charges of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death.

Also testifying was Kyle Sawyer, Ryan’s twin brother, who was with him the night of the incident. He described a confrontation that began after he accidentally spilled a beer on another patron inside the bar and ended outside in a flurry of security and violence. Kyle said he saw Levy attempt a chokehold on him first, then observed the same applied to Ryan. He later claimed he heard Ryan gasp, “I can’t breathe.” Kyle admitted to having consumed eight to ten drinks that evening and acknowledged he may have been preparing to fight, though memories are hazy.

Surveillance footage admitted to court shows Ryan leaving the bar, followed by Kyle, who gestures and then bumps into Levy. The conflict escalated rapidly, with bouncers intervening immediately. Afterward, Kyle was arrested and taken to hospital for evaluation but released without charges.

The Halifax Alehouse has since closed, and its property was sold. The trial remains underway at the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, with further testimony expected through the week.

Ottawa, Canada: In a startling disclosure, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has identified 47,175 international students who are “non-compliant” with their study permit conditions — meaning they are not attending classes as required.

According to Aiesha Zafar, head of migration integrity at the House of Commons Committee, the figure represents students who may be in violation of their visa terms, with a significant number believed to be residing illegally within Canada. The revelations were first reported by the National Post.

While multiple nationalities are involved, India ranks at the top of the list of non-compliant students. The findings are based on reports submitted by Canadian colleges and universities, which are legally required to notify IRCC when international students stop attending classes. These reports are forwarded to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for potential enforcement.

However, officials admit a major oversight gap — if institutions fail to report absences, there is no direct system to track missing or inactive students. “Quantifying non-compliant international students remains difficult,” Zafar said, noting that active investigations fall under the CBSA’s jurisdiction.

Earlier this year, IRCC disclosed that during spring 2024, nearly 50,000 students were flagged as “no-shows.” Among them, around 20,000 were Indian nationals and over 4,200 were from China.

The revelation has reignited debate about the weaknesses in Canada’s student monitoring system, especially as universities increasingly rely on foreign students to sustain their operations and local economies.

Adding to the concern, new study permit approvals for Indian nationals have dropped sharply. Between January and July 2025, only 52,765 permits were issued — down from 188,255 during the same period in 2024. Experts forecast that by year-end, approvals may not exceed 90,000, reflecting a 67.5% decline compared to 2023.

The downturn aligns with Canada’s 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which seeks to reduce the temporary resident population to below five per cent. Consequently, total arrivals — including international students and foreign workers — fell 57% in the first half of 2025 compared to last year. Student arrivals dropped by 214,520, a 70% plunge, while foreign work permits declined by 50%.

Indian students remain the most affected group, facing an 80% rejection rate in 2025 — the highest among all nationalities. The situation underscores growing challenges for Indian families weighing the rising costs, PR uncertainties, and limited opportunities in Canada’s evolving immigration landscape.