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Supporters stand with Schmidt |
Supporters stand with Schmidt; Shareholders, others say their rights are being trampled
Don Crosby - Owen Sound Sun Times
Friday, November 24, 2006
- 08:00
Local News
- The crackdown by provincial investigators on the distribution of raw
milk products from a farm near Durham was seen by many at a rally on
Thursday as government meddling and restriction on their freedom of
choice.
"We can't understand how somebody's property and livelihood
can be confiscated without a conviction in a free country," said Paul
Hallman, chair of the Grey-Bruce Landowners Association, part of a
province-wide group that promotes the entrenchment of property rights
in the Constitution. He was among 150 people who turned out to a rally
in support of Michael Schmidt, whose dairy operation was raided earlier
this week.
Schmidt was charged with operating a milk processing plant
without a licence and had about $10,000 worth of milk processing
equipment confiscated. Dairy products and produce, records and computer
hard drives were also seized during the raid on his farm northeast of
Durham.
"At issue is a person's right to choose and there are many
examples of how government agencies focusing their priorities and
viewing Canadian farms as a threat and a danger while turning their
backs and a blind eye to foreign, unregulated imports," said Hallman, a
sawmill operator in Walter's Falls.
He cited the example of the mobile cheese making equipment
belonging to a Renfrew man that was confiscated after officials learned
he was making cheese for area farmers using their own milk for their
own use.
"We're here to support the Schmidts," said Ron Dillman, chair of the Dufferin County chapter of the landowners association.
"Where is my right to choose what I want to eat?" asked an
irate Joanna Rizoiu of Brampton, a shareholder on the Schmidt farm.
"The government took my food from my plate: they stopped me from eating
what I want. I'm ready to go to jail with Michael if I have to show
that in a democratic country you are not allowed to decide what to
eat."
"I'm here to support Michael and the freedom of choice for
foods that are health promoting. There's absolutely no risk with this
food," said Howard Biller, who lives in Collingwood and Toronto.
Biller said he has suffered from ulcerative colitis, a serious digestive disorder, for more than 30 years.
"I've been using Michael's milk over two years now. I'm not on
any drugs for colitis either. This milk has made a profound difference
in my health and if anybody was going to experience any ill effects
from bacteria, it would be with my system which is very sensitive than
the average person," he said.
Sanda Draga has been a shareholder for five years and drank
raw milk from the Schmidt farm while pregnant with her two year old
daughter. "I believe it's nutritious as opposed to the milk from the
super store, which is not nutritious. As a mother, this is my main
concern - the nutrition of the food," said Draga, who is adamant it's
her right to receive the milk products from a cow in which she has a
share.
"We own the cows and Michael just raises them for us, milks them for us and distributes the milk for us," she said.
Draga supports Schmidts decision to continue to supply his customers with raw milk products even after Tuesday's raid.
"Michael understands that our families are very dependent on
this food and he can not discontinue providing it to our families. We
are prepared to help him out until the end of the battle."
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