Monday, April 11, 2011


NEWMARKET, ON: Dairy farmer Michael Schmidt will return to the Ontario Court of Justice on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 to fight the Ontario government’s appeal of his acquittal on charges relating to the distribution of raw milk.

Schmidt was pronounced “not guilty” on January 21, 2010 of all 19 counts against him. Justice of the Peace Paul Kowarsky held that there was “no evidence before me whatsoever that any person ever became ill” as a result of consuming the unpasteurized milk they obtained through Schmidt’s private cow-share arrangement.

The Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF) will act on Schmidt’s behalf in the appeal. Lawyer Karen Selick said: “We will argue that Mr. Schmidt’s acquittal should be upheld, and that individuals—not legislators or bureaucrats—have the right to determine what foods they choose to consume. That’s part of the right to life, liberty and security of the person guaranteed by Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

Details of the court appearance are as follows:

Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Time: 9:30 A.M.
Place: Courthouse, 50 Eagle Street West, Newmarket, ON, courtroom 100

The Canadian Constitution Foundation is an independent, non-profit registered charitable organization whose mission is to defend the constitutional freedoms of Canadians through education, communication and litigation.


For more information, contact:

Karen Selick, Litigation Director, Canadian Constitution Foundation
888-695-9105 x. 104 or KSelick@CanadianConstitutionFoundation.ca