'Big victory' for raw-milk activist Schmidt

August 4, 2008

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‘Big victory’ for raw-milk activist Schmidt

Posted: July 31, 2008, 6:20 PM by Rob Roberts

By Jenny Wagler, National Post

Raw milk activist Michael Schmidt won a brief reprieve from his legal troubles

yesterday, when a judge pushed his court date back six weeks and refused to

enforce an earlier order that the farmer cease and desist.

“I think it’s a big victory,” Mr. Schmidt said outside court.

Mr. Schmidt was in Newmarket court to face contempt-of-court charges for

allegedly breaching a court order requiring him to stop his unpasteurized milk

operations. If found guilty, he faces possible jail time.

Mr. Schmidt has drawn official ire with his “cow-share” system, which allows

clients to purchase a cow, pay for its upkeep and then collect raw milk and its

products. He is accused of violating the Health Protection and Promotion Act by

selling and distributing raw milk. That case is slated to go to trial in

January, 2009.

The contempt charges stem from a court order last year requiring Mr. Schmidt to

cease his raw milk operations.

Yesterday, Justice Michael Brown said that since “fundamental facts were in

dispute,” the case would require more time, and he re-scheduled the case for

Sept.10-12.

Judge Brown refused the Crown’s request that he order Mr. Schmidt to abide by

the earlier order.

The decision sent approving rumbles through the full courtroom, where more than

50 cow-share owners had shown up to support Mr. Schmidt.

“I think the system is letting us down,” said cow-share owner David Hillesheim.

Bonita Poulin

Canadian Coordinator

GLOBAL RECOGNITION CAMPAIGN

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

and other Chemically Induced Illnesses, Diseases & Injury

affecting civilians and military personnel

More coordinators needed!

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