The Story of a Canadian hero…………………………..
This is the result of a private meeting with a Canadian hero, his fellow convoyers and supporters seeking freedom in Canada.
In the midst of the turmoil created by the COVID-19 lockdowns, there was a powerful movement that started in Canada that most Americans were aware of if not ardent followers of. In spite of the freezing weather in Ottawa at that time, hundreds of people protested the restrictions and curtailment of human rights. The Freedom Convoy originated in response to the excessive COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates for US-Canada cross-border truckers and grew into so much more.
It started with the big rig drivers rolling into Ottawa, with full permits and permissions as required. It inspired other citizens to rally, with folks driving from all provinces in Canada to show their support for the expression of freedom that was being suppressed by the Canadian government. Thousands of pedestrian protestors showed their solidarity. They sang, they prayed, they fed the homeless, they gathered with others who were intentionally kept from them by the lockdowns. They formed a community. Their voices were heard by the Canadian government. The Freedom Convoy effectively shut down the government for three weeks, embarrassing PM Trudeau, whose draconian and ultra-strict vaccine mandate received a resounding ‘No More Mandates’ from the populace as a whole, not just the truckers.
If this were in the US, there is a chance this would have been the end of the story. During the time this story happened, we lived under a very different administration, which is the reason for the caveat. During that time in the US, people were silenced, censored, canceled and vilified by the media at the government’s direction using unconstitutional overreach of their authority as testified to in our Congress during subsequent hearings. The whole debacle is disturbing and should have never been able to occur, but it did. Under normal circumstances, this would not have been an issue in the US. Look at Portland during the ‘Summer of Love’ protests. There were no consequences for burning Federal buildings. A few people went to jail and were set free. The American public was gaslit with statements like “It’s a mostly peaceful protest” while buildings were ablaze in the background. The Freedom Convoy was a very different type of protest.
In Canada, the consequences of the Freedom Convoy are still playing out. 272 individuals were arrested nationwide and charged with mischief. These charges were a direct result of the invocation of the Emergencies Act which was imposed as a tactic to shut down the Freedom Convoy. January 23rd of 2024, the use of the Emergency Act was found to be unjustified by the Federal Court of Canada and a violation of citizens’ rights.
The violation of citizens’ rights continues, above and beyond the 272 individuals charged. The organizers are being systematically persecuted and prosecuted for their involvement. They have had their livelihoods destroyed, their rigs confiscated, their bank accounts seized, and their freedom threatened. As of July 2025, many have faced adjudication on the charges that range from everything from mischief to terrorism. Unlike the Summer of Love, nothing in Ottawa was torched. No buildings were destroyed. No one was harmed.
Tamara Lich was a key organizer of the Freedom Convoy. She was accused of mischief, along with other charges like intimidation and obstruction, but was ultimate convicted of only mischief. The Crown is seeking a 7-year prison sentence for Lich. Final sentencing is scheduled for October of 2025.
In an interesting aside, research into mischief charges in Canada reveals that it carries a maximum of two years. The 7-year sentence is not just punitive, as a sentence is supposed to be, they appear retaliatory.
Chris Barber was a trucking company owner from Saskatchewan who worked with Lich. He was accused of several offenses, including mischief, counseling other to disobey a court order, obstruction, and counseling intimidation. After a lengthy trial, Barber was convicted of mischief and counseling other to disobey a court order, specifically for telling participants to ignore a judge’s injunction against honking truck horns. He was acquitted of intimidation, obstruction, and counseling intimidation. He is facing an 8-year sentence, also scheduled for October of 2025. Canadian government has also recently filed to seize his big rig ‘Big Red’ that was prominent in the protests, effectively shutting down the business he runs with his son. The Crown wants to remove his ability to earn a living while he fights for his life in a court of law.
Canada has shown its true colors – defy us and we will destroy you.
Many more patriots are being systematically taken down via lawfare in association with this peaceful protest. James Bauder is another one of the founding organizers. He has been accused of mischief to obstruct property, disobeying a lawful court order, obstruction, intimidation by blocking or obstructing a highway, and counseling other to commit indictable offenses that were NOT COMMITTED. Two of the charges were added and predate the convoy, all the way back to December of 2021. When the Crown attorney discovered evidence of a speech he made on December 10th, 2021 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, they tacked on more charges. Bauder stated simply, “If Justin Trudeau were to put the unlawful federal mandates requiring all truckers to be vaccinated, I will fill Ottawa with Semis!”.
Trudeau didn’t listen and proceeded with the federal mandate. Bauder kept his word, and the Freedom Convoy was born.
His Canadian counsel has told Bauder that the others who have been convicted before him provide a solid precedent on what can be expected when he goes to trial later this year. Not convinced he could get a fair trial in the Ottawa courts, the legal team moved to get his trial out of the city where this protest occurred. The motion was denied and he is facing a court trial later in 2025.
Fast forward to May of 2025. Bauder and his wife were working as truckers in the United States, transporting products between Canada and Texas. They began brainstorming the necessary preparations in their lives to protect what little they have left, should Bauder be sentenced to 15 years, as requested by the Crown. What preparations can be made to protect the family, his wife, and remaining assets? The intent of the Crown appears to want Bauder’s conviction as the biggest jewel in their lawfare crown, sending a compelling message that to speak out against tyranny will wipe you out and put you in jail.
On their drive, the Bauder’s thought carefully about how to approach their situation and chose to contact US immigration attorney, Matthew Kolken. Mr. Kolken is a well-respected attorney in his field and a sometimes Fox News contributor. His advice was serious and urgent. A political asylum application would be his best protection against facing the lawfare brought by the Crown, but there was a serious and unexpected consequence. James Bauder could not go home. He could not go back into Canada now that he had been counseled and planning on filing for asylum. Returning would affect his application and Kolken’s ability to fight for him. The Bauders were stunned. So much for the plan to work as hard as possible, save as much money as possible, and face the courts like the rest of his co-defendants. The Bauder’s said they needed some time to think and pray on the decision as to whether or not seeking asylum for being a political target of the Canadian government was the right move. There wasn’t a lot of time to think or contemplate. With a thousand miles or less to the border crossing, they knew that this door would close if they crossed the border into Canada.
The Bauder’s made a decision. Despite the fact that they had very little cash on hand and that they knew no one in the area where they made the decision, they put their faith in God and did the only thing they could do. They dropped James off in the middle of nowhere America and Mrs. Bauder continued home to Canada. Alone.
The Bauder’s faith was well placed. James was able to obtain a motel room. He had no ability to pay for much more than a takeout pizza that he figured could last over several meals. Beyond that, there was no plan in place. Bauder sat in his motel room and prayed. He prayed for guidance and a sign that he was doing the right thing. Did he just make a terrible mistake? There was no safety net. There was no one to call for help or even a kind word. That little town in the middle of nowhere USA is where Bauder’s prayers were answered and his faith once again confirmed.
Bauder made his way to the local pizza parlor and met a group of three men who were having a bible study, which they graciously invited him to attend. These men heard Bauder’s story over pizza and bible study, and like true men of God, they took Bauder in. He is in their care during this turbulent time. Despite the safe haven Bauder found, he is still in danger of losing everything.
Bauder’s political asylum filing presents the most unique immigration case in modern history. The top countries of origin for political asylees are Venezuela, China, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Afghanistan. Because of the volume of immigration cases, the wait times can stretch from several months to years. In order for Canada to extradite Bauder for failure to appear, which at this point is the truth in advance as the case has not yet been heard in Ottawa, the Crown would have to try his case in the US first.
While US courts move at the speed of maple syrup in winter, it can take several years to get to court, next year Bauder could be in court in the US if Canada attempts extradition. The odds of setting a precedent and proving that lawfare, political prosecution and political persecution are high. This would illustrate that Canada is NOT A SAFE COUNTRY and could impact the tenuous Safe Country Agreement between Canada and the USA for the first time ever.
Bauder currently has 7 lawyers. He understands his situation is quite fragile. His finances and ability to continue to pay his attorney are unstable at best. He is asking President Trump to lobby the Canadian Federal Government to pardon the truckers, which only PM Mark Carney can do. Bauder contends that Trumps personal experience with lawfare and political prosecution make him uniquely qualified to appreciate his perspective. As the President, Trump can help guide his administration to take a closer look at his case and all the Canadians improperly impugned, attacked, and who had their rights violated. Trump brought up the same issue with Kier Starmer of the UK, mentioning that putting people in prison for social media posts is not an expression of a free country or evident of the principles of free speech. It stands to reason Trump would be interested in utilizing this case as a cudgel against those who seek to stifle speech anywhere in the world.
Bauder’s intent was never to overthrow the government of Canada, yet that is the underlying assertion in all these court hearings. Much like January 7th Riots at the DC Capitol, no one was armed at the convoy and there was no organized attempt to overthrow anything. No one caused injury to anyone else. In other trials related to the convoy, individuals were sentenced, but it was noted that some of the sentencing confirms the peaceful nature of the protest. It was considered a reduced sentence because the courts found that, while the individuals’ collective actions were disruptive, they did not involve violence or targeting of vulnerable populations. This is true of all the accused, yet they are all looking at years long sentencing requests that far exceed the statutory guidelines.
James Bauder has a long road ahead, filled with uncertainty, legal filings and invoices, plus his need to feed, cloth, and house himself and his two trucker puppies. He continues to advocate for the 272 others who continue their personal battles with the Canadian government. He wants his fellow Freedom Convoy Family released from the overreach created by the government in their zealous pursuit of retaliation. Families have endured legal costs in the range of $20,000 to $100,000 in defense of a prosecution that was deemed unjustified. Some have had to endure solitary confinement, jail, house arrests, community service. Some now have criminal records, while others have been bankrupted by the process. They have all paid a hefty price for their non-violent protest on behalf of all Canadians. They are heroes, each and every one.
Bauder continues to persevere. He has no ability to earn a living without the appropriate visa or social security number. He has created a Give Send Go campaign to help him with his legal expenses. https://www.givesendgo.com/Please-Support-James-Bauder is where you can go to help the cause of freedom.
Stand Up America US Foundation (SUAUS) is committed to truth. On Canada Day in 2025, James Bauder sat down with our Chairman, MG Paul E Vallely (ret) to tell his story. We endeavor to advocate for James, his family, and for freedom of all people.
If you would like to offer other help, please reach out to SUAUS via Laura Perry, lauraperrymt@proton.me for interview and other requests.
Thank you, Laura
The Liberty Ship for Freedom Lovers
This article was published at Paul Vallely’s Substack
The views expressed in CCNS member articles are not necessarily the views or positions of the entire CCNS. They are the views of the authors, who are members of the CCNS.
