1 Recently, Freedom Convoy organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were sentenced for their roles in the 2022 protest and encampment, when thousands of truckers and supporters drove to Ottawa calling for freedom and an end to public mandates. How supportive were you of the Freedom Convoy protest at that time?
2 The court sentenced Tamara Lich and Chris Barber to 18-month conditional sentences, including 12 months of house arrest, followed by a curfew and community service. How would you describe these sentences? They should have served some jail time | |
They should not have been charged in the first place | |
3 Initially the Crown had sought prison sentences of up to 8 years for both organizers. Do you think seeking such long sentences was reasonable?
4 Do you believe the government’s pandemic-related mandates and restrictions—such as lockdown measures, travel limits, and employment requirements that led to the Freedom Convoy—were reasonable? Yes, necessary for public safety | |
No, they went too far and infringed on personal freedoms | |
Some were reasonable, others went too far | |
5 A federal court later ruled the government’s use of the Emergencies Act was unreasonable and unjustified, while an earlier public inquiry found it was justified. Which finding do you agree with more? The court’s decision (the government overstepped) | |
The inquiry’s conclusion (the government was justified) | |
Unsure / not familiar enough to say | |
6 As part of the Emergencies Act, the government told banks to freeze some protesters’ bank accounts. Some saw it as necessary to restore order, others felt it went too far. Do you think the government made the right call?
7 Looking back, how do you view the government’s handling of the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests? Totals may exceed 100% due to multiple answer choices Responsible and necessary to restore order | |
Heavy-handed and went too far | |
Could’ve been resolved through dialogue | |
Showed poor leadership and overreach | |
Caused lasting damage to public trust | |
Many residents suffered serious disruption | |
Deepened divisions between citizens and government | |
8 Has your view of the Freedom Convoy protest changed since it happened? Yes, I’ve become more supportive | |
Yes, I’ve become more opposed | |
No change – I’ve always been supportive | |
No change – I’ve always been opposed | |
9 In retrospect, what can Canadians learn from how the Freedom Convoy protest was handled? The following replies represent the most common responses, listed in order of frequency. |
1. Government overreach can quickly erode public trust and freedoms |
2. Dialogue and understanding should have come before enforcement |
3. Government powers were used in ways that felt excessive and unjustified |
4. Different protests seem to be treated with unequal standards |
5. Leadership during the crisis was seen as weak and unresponsive |
6. Peaceful protest is vital, but it must not disrupt others’ rights |
7. Media bias and misinformation deepened national polarization |
8. Law and order should be enforced fairly and without delay |
9. The events exposed growing division and loss of mutual respect among Canadians |
10 How would you rate Canadian mainstream media’s coverage of the Freedom Convoy and Emergencies Act? Excellent: insightful, balanced, and thorough | |
Good: generally fair, with some gaps | |
Average: covers the basics but lacks depth or context | |
Poor: inaccurate, biased, or overly driven by political or corporate agendas | |
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