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Christopher John Barber

Christopher John Barber (born in 1975 or 1976), and usually known as Chris Barber, is a Canadian trucking company operator, and activist who co-led the Canadian convoy protest. He was arrested on February 17, 2022 and released on bail the next day. His courtroom defence had yet to be heard as of January 2024.[1]

Chris Barber
Born
Christopher John Barber

1975 or 1976
CitizenshipCanadian
Occupation(s)Trucking company owner and operator
Known forCanada convoy protest co-organiser

He gave evidence at the Public Order Emergency Commission in November 2022, speaking about his power struggles with fellow organizer Pat King.

Career

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Christopher John Barber[2] is a truck driver from Swift Current, Saskatchewan[3][4] who operates his own trucking company, C. B. Trucking Limited.[5][6]

Activism

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Barber is vaccinated against COVID19,[7] but considers vaccine mandates to be government tyranny.[8] He has two confederate flags hanging in his home, which he described on a TikTok broadcast as a "piece of cloth."[8] Barber operates two TikTok accounts BigRed1975 and ChrisBarber1975.[9] Barber describes himself as an "internet troll."[10]

Along with Pat King and Tamara Lich, Barber was one of three main organisers of the Canadian convoy protest.[11] In January 2022, he spoke of his ambition to persuade politicians to end vaccine mandates.[12] On February 2, in the context of noise complaints from Ottawa residents, he released the written statement: "Our message to the citizens of Ottawa is one of empathy".[13]

Criminal charges

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Barber was arrested February 17, 2022, near Parliament Hill.[14] Earlier the same week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had invoked the Emergencies Act, as part of a strategy to end the protest.[15] Barber was charged with counselling to commit mischief, counselling to disobey a court order, and counselling to obstruct police.[11] The next day,[16] he was released from custody, on bail and ordered to leave Ottawa and to avoid contact with Tamara Lich and Pat King.[17] Barber's court appearance is scheduled for September 5, 2023 and is expected to last 16 days.[18]

During the November 2022 Public Order Emergency Commission, Barber spoke of his tension and power struggle with fellow organiser Pat King.[19] He also spoke about his own racist and anti-muslim internet posts.[20]

In March 2023, government prosecutors were accused of malice after phone records between Chris Barber and Lich were briefly released online. Content included personal details and business communications unconnected to the convoy protest. Barber's legal team, with support from The Crown, secured a publication ban to protect both his and Lich's privacy. The Crown stated that the data release was an oversight.[21]

In April 2023, Barber pled not guilty to the criminal charge of counselling others to disobey a court, based on activities he undertook in February of the same year.[22]

In January 2024 the CBC said that he faced a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, for the mischief charge.[1]

Personal life

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Barber is married to his wife,[23] and has a son and daughter.[6] They live in Saskatchewan.[22]

He was aged 46 in February 2022.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b Fraser, David (January 4, 2024). "Tamara Lich, Chris Barber convoy trial to resume for 1 day only". CBC News. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  2. ^ "'Freedom Convoy' organizers Barber, Lich charged by Ottawa police". CityNews Ottawa. February 18, 2022. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  3. ^ McGregor, Glen; Gray, Mackenzie; Gowling, Jordan (July 4, 2022). "Former Sask. premier Brad Wall gave strategic advice to key convoy organizer". CTVNews. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  4. ^ Zammit, David (January 20, 2022). "Freedom convoy: truckers protesting COVID mandates travel to Ottawa". SwiftCurrentOnline. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  5. ^ "Convoy organizer Chris Barber files Charter application in mischief case". ottawacitizen. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "CPAC - For the Record". www.cpac.ca. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  7. ^ Freeze, Colin (February 11, 2022). "Convoy protests' key figures count liberal ideas, 'political Islam,' Ottawa's indifference toward the West among their grievances". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Who is who? A guide to the major players in the trucker convoy protest". CTVNews. February 10, 2022. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  9. ^ Leavitt, Kieran; McKeen, Alex (January 24, 2022). "Truckers convoy: How a TikToker, oil advocates and a Wexit organizer helped fire up the 'Freedom Rally' that's heading to Ottawa". thestar.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  10. ^ Tasker, John Paul (November 1, 2022). "Convoy inquiry hears of death threat against Freeland as organizer describes 'power struggle' among protesters". CBC. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022. "self professed internet troll Chris Barber" (in video)
  11. ^ a b Frizzell, Sara; Yogaretnam, Shaamini (February 17, 2022). "Convoy protest organizers Tamara Lich, Chris Barber, Pat King arrested in Ottawa". CBC. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  12. ^ "'We just need some answers:' Sask. trucker vows to stay in Ottawa". 650 CKOM. January 31, 2022. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  13. ^ "Protest organizers dig in and say only politicians can clear Ottawa's downtown". CBC. February 2, 2022. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  14. ^ ROB GILLIES, WILSON RING and ROBERT BUMSTED (February 17, 2022). "Canadian police arrest 2 leaders as truckers stand ground". ABC News. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  15. ^ Villarreal, Daniel (February 17, 2022). "Canadian Trucker Convoy Organizers Barber, Lich Arrested, in Custody". Newsweek. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  16. ^ Lord, Craig (February 18, 2022). "'Freedom convoy' organizer Chris Barber to be released on bail | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  17. ^ Hunter, Adam (July 5, 2022). "Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall texted advice to convoy organizer, CTV report says". CBC. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  18. ^ Osman, Laura (August 30, 2022). "Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber to face trial in September 2023". CityNews Ottawa. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  19. ^ "Emergencies Act: Canada 'Freedom Convoy' power struggles laid bare". BBC News. November 23, 2022. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  20. ^ McLeod, Marsha; Walsh, Marieke (November 1, 2022). "Convoy protest organizer Chris Barber tells Emergencies Act inquiry that other leader's violent comments were not a concern". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  21. ^ Ballingall, Alex (March 8, 2023). "'Freedom Convoy' leader's phone records were released accidentally, Crown lawyer says". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Convoy organizer Chris Barber pleads not guilty to new criminal charge". CBC. April 24, 2023. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  23. ^ Ibrahim, Erika (July 9, 2022). "'Freedom Convoy' organizers discussed playing 'race card' with Metis heritage". CP24. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  24. ^ "'Freedom Convoy' leader says he just wants to go home after spending night in jail". ottawacitizen. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
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