Episode Overview

Podcast: Rebel News Podcast
Host: Sheila Gunn Reid
Episode Title: SHEILA GUNN REID | Convoy leaders sentenced — but not silenced
Date: December 17, 2025

This episode dives into the recent sentencing of Freedom Convoy leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, examining the aftermath of their convictions, their personal resilience, and their ongoing activism. Despite facing criminal charges and intense scrutiny from both the government and segments of the public, Lich and Barber remain active, launching a new podcast and continuing their advocacy. The conversation explores the wider implications for civil liberties and protest in Canada, concerns about government overreach, and the personal toll exacted by years of legal battles.

Key Discussions & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Convoy Leaders Join the Show

Timestamps: 00:00–02:54

• Sheila Gunn Reid introduces Tamara Lich (broadcasting from house arrest) and Chris Barber (calling in from the road in the US).
• Reid frames their convictions as "criminally mischievous" acts for leading peaceful protest and criticizes the Canadian state's treatment of them.
• Reid lauds their resilience:
  "They are more mentally and spiritually resilient than most people I have ever encountered in my entire life." [01:30]

2. Life After Sentencing & the ‘House Arrest’ Podcast

Timestamps: 02:54–05:36

• Lich and Barber discuss their podcast, House Arrest, which streams weekly (Thursdays, 6 pm MT).

• The show gives space to causes close to their hearts: veterans, the vaccine-injured, and legal defense fundraising (Coutts Boys, etc.).

• The first episode featured Brian Peckford, former premier of Newfoundland, discussing the Charter and Canadian constitutional rights.

• The podcast serves as a way to remain engaged with the community and catalyze support for those in ongoing legal battles.

  Notable Quote:
  "We really wanted to give a platform to causes that we support, like our veterans, the vaccine injured...Because let's not forget, there's a lot of people that are still [dealing with] lawfare." – Tamara Lich [03:42]

3. Impact on Daily Life: House Arrest, Work, and Community Service

Timestamps: 05:36–09:48

• Lich serves community service at a local food bank and church despite the constraints of her sentence—a process she says was bureaucratic and slow to arrange.

• Barber continues working as a trucker, emphasizing the judge allowed him to cross into the US for work to provide for his family.

• Both highlight the strain these conditions place on their personal lives, but remain committed to helping others.

• Lich notes the hardship she witnesses at the food bank, linking it to broader economic issues and repeated re-election of liberal governments.

  Notable Quote:
  "It's something that has always been very close to myself and Chris's heart...people are paying attention to our case and so it does give us an opportunity to do our best to help other people." – Tamara Lich [05:17]

4. Government Perseverance to Seize ‘Big Red’ and Its Symbolism

Timestamps: 09:48–16:03

• Barber details the government's attempt to forfeit his iconic truck, ‘Big Red’, as part of his sentencing—a move unprecedented and fiercely contested.

• The case sets a worrisome precedent for asset forfeiture in Canada, particularly for protest-related activism.

• The determination of the Crown to pursue forfeiture—potentially in multiple jurisdictions—draws Lich’s criticism for being political and wasteful, considering other criminal cases are dismissed for lack of resources.

• Both express the emotional toll, with Barber calling it his "line in the sand":
  "I will fight to my last breath over this truck. This is my line in the sand." – Chris Barber [16:15]

  Memorable Moment:
  Lich remarks on the vindictiveness:
  "It's just so obviously petty and vindictive. Like, it's like we're dealing with...middle school." [17:36]

5. The Toll of Lawfare and Disillusionment with Canadian Institutions

Timestamps: 16:03–20:54

• Lich reflects on how the legal and political ordeal has shattered her faith in Canadian institutions.

• She asserts that true freedom comes from within, grounded in her faith, and refuses to let the process demoralize her.

• Both speakers express concern about the broader societal damage wrought by government actions during COVID, particularly the erosion of institutional trust and leadership.

  Notable Quote:
  "Nobody can really take my freedom away. My freedom comes from God, and so I can be locked up in my home, but that doesn't make me any less free." – Tamara Lich [14:44]

  "The legal system in Canada is not designed to protect people like myself and Chris Barber." – Tamara Lich [15:32]

6. Division, Family Strain, and Societal Effects

Timestamps: 20:54–22:12

• The discussion turns to the lingering effects of division from the pandemic years—families split by government policies on vaccine mandates, social pressure, and ideological divides.

• Both recount personal/family experiences and bemoan the loss of meaningful debate in society, replaced by compliance and division.

  Notable Quotes:
  "How many people in Christmas...won't be celebrating a Christmas meal together because of what the government has told family members to hate other family members." – Chris Barber [20:55]

7. Support, Legal Funds, and Community Connections

Timestamps: 22:12–24:54

• Barber shares practical details for listeners to support their court cases and legal funds, mentioning the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms and The Democracy Fund.
• He also highlights a fundraising website offering ‘Big Red’ merchandise, with proceeds also supporting local charities like the SPCA.
• Both guests express gratitude for the support they've received from the public.

8. Looking Forward / Lighthearted Moment

Timestamps: 24:54–25:32

• The trio jokes about a potential future Rebel News interview in Barber’s shop—a glimpse of camaraderie and future plans.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• "They have been put through the wringer...But I've got news for the Carney government. That's not going to happen with these two." – Sheila Gunn Reid [01:00]

• "The whole purpose of lawfare is literally to bankrupt and demoralize you." – Tamara Lich [14:44]

• "I will fight to my last breath over this truck. This is my line in the sand." – Chris Barber [16:15]

• "Sitting in that courtroom...listening to some of the things and the accusations...I just couldn't—who are you people?...We are not the same." – Tamara Lich [17:36]

Listener Segment & Closing Thoughts

Timestamps: 25:32–End

• Sheila pivots to her cheeky book stunt—a protest in the form of two intentionally blank books about Alberta/Saskatchewan’s case for remaining in Confederation.

• Hilarious, satirical reviews and feedback from her audience follow, reinforcing her direct, openly conservative tone: "I'm not non-biased. I'm honest about my bias. And that's a little different." [28:20]

• The episode closes with Sheila’s signature send-off: "Don't let the government tell you that, that you've had too much to think."

Episode Flow & Tone

• Tone: Defiant, candid, humorous at times; blends seriousness of legal/political issues with moments of levity and warmth.
• Language: Casual, direct, often emotionally charged.
• Structure:
  • Opening: Setting the stakes with high emotion
  • Middle: Deep-dive into guests’ experiences, activism, and ongoing legal barriers
  • End: Produces audience engagement and a light-hearted protest through satire

If You Missed the Episode…

• The government’s effort to thoroughly punish and discredit Convoy leaders is ongoing, but Tamara Lich and Chris Barber remain engaged, undaunted, and actively fighting—both through legal avenues and public discourse.
• Their new podcast, "House Arrest," provides not just updates on their journey but also a continuing platform for causes they championed during the convoy.
• The ‘Big Red’ truck case is seen as a bellwether for future protest-related prosecutions in Canada.
• Both guests are deeply affected by the experience, yet their sense of humor and resolve persists.
• The episode offers a clear window into the personal, emotional, and societal costs of protest, litigation, and persistent government opposition, all while conveying a message of enduring hope and resistance.