Convoy of truckers: Steeve “L’Artiss” Charland guilty of misdeed

An Ontario Superior Court judge has found Steeve “L’Artiss” Charland guilty of mischief in connection with the truckers’ convoy that paralyzed downtown Ottawa in the winter of 2022.

On the other hand, the Crown, represented by lawyer François Dulude, requested a stay of proceedings for the second count, namely of having advised to commit mischief.

The judge listed 10 cumulative effects of the consequences of the demonstrationsuch as street congestion, noise caused by horns and engines, the closure of certain businesses as well as the disproportionate use of police services to maintain public order.

The scale, scope and duration of the demonstration clearly demolished the balance between the right to demonstrate and the collective right to use the enjoyment and operation of a businessaffirmed the magistrate.

Before rendering his decision, the judge read for almost three hours all the highlights of the trial. Wearing a checked shirt and sitting to the left of his lawyer Nicolas St-Pierre, Steeve Charland listened to the judge without flinching. Relatives accompanied him to room 37 of the Ottawa courthouse.

The defense argued that the Crown had not established beyond a reasonable doubt that the demonstration was illegal and that it was managed by the City of Ottawa. To this, the judge said that he was unreasonable to believe that the City approved the demonstration.

L’inaction [de la police] is not synonymous with permissionadded the magistrate.

Sentencing is expected to take place during February 2025.

The defense and the Crown did not want to comment on the decision.

During his testimony last year, he told Judge Robert Pelletier that he did not understand why he was in the dock, insisting that he had acted within the limits permitted by the law.

Well frankly, I don’t know why I’m here, Mr. Justicelaunched the one who became known to the Quebec public a few years ago for his role with the identity group La Meute.

During the truckers’ convoy, he presented himself as the spokesperson for the Farfadaas, a protest movement which with two horses [sic] of battle: demonstrate for rights and freedoms and to help the forgottendescribed Mr. Charland during his trial.

Steeve Charland is not the only headliner of the truckers’ convoy to have been accused. The Albertan Pat King was found guilty on November 22 of five of the nine counts against him.

As for Chris Barber and to Tamara Lichthey are still awaiting their judgment after 45 days of trial. The judge Heather Perkins-McVey said on September 13 that it could not say when it would issue its verdict due to the unusually large volume of evidence and legal issues surrounding the entire case.

All of these trials are held – or have been held – at the Ottawa courthouse. That of Steeve Charland is the only one which took place in French.

With information from Anne-Louise Michel