Legalizing
Natural (untreated) Milk in Ontario
IF
YOU LIVE IN ONTARIO, PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION - CLICK ON
Last
update: November 4, 2011
The
Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty met with Michael Schmidt on day
37 of Michael's hunger strike. There is now the real prospect for
change. It is rather amazing how far Michael had to go before the
government would agree to review it's prohibition on the sale all
raw milk. It is clear that our system of representative government
should also be reviewed and revised so that it can serve and protect
the people of this province, rather than the corporate and monied
interests which fund electoral success.
Every
other G-8 country but Canada has a second set of dairy production
standards of sufficiently high caliber that the milk can be safely
consumed raw. We don't have this. This is what we want.
This
website is dedicated to researching and promoting raw drinking milk
for Ontario consumers. For
a good summary of the issues and links, click on Wikipedia.
If
you have any comments or suggestions: Send
us a comment.
What's
New:
-
On
November 4, 2011, Michael Schmidt ended his 37 day hunger strike
after meeting with the Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty. Michael
feels there is now a real prospect for change.
-
On
October 28, 2011, on day 30 of Michael Schmidt's hunger strike,
Conservative MPP Randy Hillier and Liberal MPP Greg Sorbara formed
a bipartisan group to pressure Premier Dalton McGuinty into meeting
with Michael.
-
On
October 6, 2011, Dalton McGuinty was re-elected as the Premier
of Ontario with a minority government, losing his former majority.
This creates an opportunity to bring additional political pressure
on the Premier because the opposition parties have enough power
to overturn any government position.
-
On
September 29, 2011, Michael Schmidt began a hunger strike which
will end if Premier Dalton meets with him to discuss the type
of raw milk that is fit for human consumption without commercial
processing.
-
On
September 28, 2011, the judge for Michael Schmidt's appeal reversed
Michael's earlier acquittal and found him guilty on 15 out of
19 charges. Click
here for the text of his decision. Michael's lawyer
announced her intention to appeal this verdict.
-
On
June 16, 2011, the judge for Michael Schmidt's appeal announced
a delay of his decision until September 16, 2011. He also mentioned
that his decision would be forwarded to the lawyers and no one
needs to come to court.
-
On
April 13, 2011 the appeal hearing of Michael Schmidt's successful
lower court decision took place. Arguments were permitted for
Charter rights. One important item was the confirmation of the
right of ordinary Canadians to consume raw milk but no practical
way for them to obtain it. The decision of the appeal court judge
will be made on July 8, 2011. For an excellent summary of the
proceedings and for copies of the court documents,
click
here.
-
On
January 21, 2011, the author of this website, James McLaren, appeared
for cross-examination in the appeal proceedings of Michael Schmidt.
Mr. McLaren represented consumers and their Charter right to consume
raw milk for health purposes.
-
On
December 17, 2010, the appeal court judge gave his permission
to include the charter arguments of two consumers in the appeal
of Michael Schmidt, one for health reasons and one for religious
reasons. Because the judge was late with this decision and because
the prosecution wishes to cross-examine the new witnesses, the
date for the appeal hearing was delayed.
-
On
October 21, 2010, we attended the Ontario Court of Justice for
pre-trial planning for Michael Schmidt's appeal. The judge decided
he would try both the cow-sharing and the charter issues together
in the appeal. He also heard arguments for and against the expansion
of the number of charter arguments to be considered at the appeal
and will release a summary decision on this matter by mid-November
and a full ruling on December 2, 2010.
-
On
October 14, 2010, we formally requested the assistance of the
Ontario Ombudsman to compel the Ontario Farm Products Marketing
Commission to perform their statutory duty of conducting research
into dairy production procedures that would produce raw milk of
sufficiently high quality that it could be safely consumed raw
without pasteurization, unlike the current procedures which require
pasteurization for milk to be consumed safely. Click
here and
click here.
-
On
August 30, 2010, our lawyer was in the Ontario Court of Justice
re pre-trial planning for Michael Schmidt's appeal. A trial date
for the appeal was set for February 8, 2011.
-
On
June 24, 2010, our lawyer was in the Ontario Court of Justice
to argue a motion regarding Michael Schmidt's appeal to include
Charter arguments for consumers. However, it was delayed until
October 21, 2010.
-
On
February 11, 2010, the government appealed Michael Schmidt's acquittal.
Click
here for the text. The appeal was later set for February
8, 2011.
-
On
February 8, 2010 our lawyer sent a request to meet with the new
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Carol Mitchell.
She didn't even respond. Click
here.
-
On
January 21, 2010, Michael Schmidt won at court. He was acquitted
of 20 charges of selling and distributing raw milk. His cow-share
program was found to be a legal way for consumers to obtain a
legal product, specifically raw milk. Click
here for the judge's decision.
-
On
December 9, 2009, Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food
and Rural Affairs, refused to meet with our lawyer to discuss
the issue of raw milk for consumers.
Click
here.
-
On
December 2, 2009, we launched the paper version of our Ontario
Raw Milk petition. For a Word version click
here and
for a .pdf version click
here. If you live in Ontario, make copies
and spread it around - YOU CAN HELP! This petition conforms to
the rules set out by the Ontario Legislature (click
here) and consequently the
Legislature will be required to file a response to the petition
within 24 sitting days.
-
On
November 17, 2009, the litigation director of the Canadian Constitution
Foundation, Karen Selick, LL.B., announced their support and representation
for our cause. Click
here.
-
On
October 30, 2009, we activated an online petition for Ontario
residents, since we are working with a lawyer to ensure that if
the petition is ignored by the Ontario authorities, legal proceedings
can be started to compel them to perform their statutory duty.
Click
here or on
.
If
you have any comments or suggestions: Send
us a comment.
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