‘You ain’t getting a dime,’ vows Freedom Convoy organizer named in class action lawsuit

A Sudbury, Ont., organizer of the Freedom Convoy, which took place earlier this year and shut down parts of downtown Ottawa, has been named in a $300-million class action lawsuit.

Jason Lefaci, who is running for the Ontario Party in the Sudbury riding under the name Jason Laface, said this week he has little respect for the lawsuit and has no plans to compensate the plaintiffs.

“To me, that lawsuit is a joke,” he told The Sudbury Star. “The people who put that together really need to give their heads a shake.”

Lefaci said “all the stuff they’re claiming is a lie.”

None of the allegations in the suit have been proven in a court of law.

He said the protests with which he was involved were peaceful. He said once his crew arrived in Ottawa, the “city was locked down already and the businesses were shut down.”

Lefaci is one of 20 people listed in a class action lawsuit filed recently by Ottawabased firm, Champ and Associates. Lefaci is the only person from Northern Ontario to be named as a defendant.

The lawsuit was filed to rectify “the serious harms and losses experienced by the residents, businesses and workers in downtown Ottawa due to the Freedom Convoy occupation,” the website outlines.

Four plaintiffs are named, but they represent thousands of impacted individuals, including about 12,000 residents, a couple hundred businesses and as many as 800 employees who work in the city core. They are seeking $306 million in damages, in addition to legal costs and HST.

“The defendants deliberately planned and co-ordinated tactics to block all the streets and roadways around Parliament Hill and the surrounding neighbourhoods, and to make as much noise and air pollution as possible to cause discomfort and distress to Ottawa residents, business and workers to coerce governments to comply with their demands,” the lawsuit website indicates. “The non-stop blaring horns, diesel fumes, unexpected fireworks and loud sound systems blasting music have caused the residents unbearable torment in the sanctity of their own homes.

“The defendants are aware or ought to be aware these tactics can cause permanent physical damage and psychological harm. The defendants have acted with wanton disregard towards the residents, businesses and workers of Ottawa. Canada is a free and democratic society with a long tradition of peaceful protest and assemblies. The defendants have abused those freedoms to cause serious harm to others, innocent bystanders to the defendants’ pursuit of their misguided political goals.”

Lefaci has no sympathy, however, for the complainants.

“You ain’t getting a dime out of me, but go ahead though, you can try,” he quipped. “I think it’s a joke. It’s hilarious...”