Hearing into lawsuit to stop convoy horns in Ottawa adjourned to Monday

Surge of people, trucks arrive in the capital Thousands of protesters descend on the capital as counter-protests also take place. CTV's Colton Praill reports.

A hearing into a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking an injunction to silence the constant honking of horns as part of the "Freedom Convoy" protest in downtown Ottawa has been adjourned until Monday.

Lawyer Paul Champ was in court Saturday afternoon to argue for an injunction to stop the incessant horn honking, which has been used as a tactic by the demonstrators for more than a week.

"The air horns and train horns that they use go from 105 to 120 decibels non-stop. If you've heard a train horn going by you, that can be quite loud. Imagine it going on for 20 minutes straight, every hour on the hour. It's become unbearable to live in downtown Ottawa," Champ told Newstalk 580 CFRA's CFRA Live with Andrew Pinsent Saturday morning.

Ken Wilson, representing the convoy organizers named in the suit, told the court that the truckers have an accord between themselves not to sound the horns between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Wilson asked the court to adjourn for several days to allow him time to prepare a case, as he had only received the motion record and affidavits late Friday night.

Champ argued for an interim injunction in the meantime, but Justice Hugh McLean said that with the present information, he could not craft an injunction that would be enforceable.

"I can't enforce it because I don't know who it is directed to," he explained.

The hearing is being put over until 1 p.m. Monday, which will give lawyers the time to prepare documents. McLean did suggest, in the interim, that the truckers co-ordinate to honk their horns only once a day. "Perhaps at noon, and that's it," he said.

According to a statement of claim filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Friday by Champ, the lawsuit is seeking $4.8 million for “private nuisance” and another $5 million in “punitive damages.”

Proposed settlement

Late Saturday afternoon, Champ said his client Ms. Li is making an offer to settle the proposed class action.

"Depart in peace, and ye shall be released," said Champ on Twitter.

In a video, Champ said, "You don't know how much harm you've been causing the individuals in downtown Ottawa. I understand why the truckers are mad about masks mandates, vaccination mandates – in fact, I represent unvaccinated workers against employers who fired them for not getting vaccinated. I get it!

"But what you're doing to the people in downtown Ottawa has just become too much."

--With files from CTV National News's Glen McGregor and CTVNews.ca's Rachel Aiello.