Lawyer Karen Selick debates raw milk on CHCH TV 11 today at 5:30 PM

Lawyer Karen Selick talks to A Channel reporter yesterday at the Newmarket courthouse.

Canadian Constitution Foundation litigation director Karen Selick will be a featured guest later today on CHCH television in Hamilton;  she will be taking part in a panel discussion with Hamilton’s medical officer of health, and possibly a representative from the Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO). Sounds like we could be making history here. Tune in at 5:30 PM today, Thursday April 14th, 2011.

The Province of Ontario’s appeal puts the spotlight back on raw milk rights

Farmer Michael Schmidt talks to A Channel reporter. That's lawyer Karen Selick in the background.

The Province of Ontario’s appeal of Justice Kowarsky’s January 2010 acquittal of raw milk farmer Michael Schmidt began yesterday at Newmarket court with Justice Peter Tetley presiding.

Shortly after the courtroom door was unlocked at 9:30 am, the small space was fully occupied — with reporters, a few legal types, an observer from the Ministry of Health, but mostly with raw milk supporters of various sorts. As a dozen more people arrived over the course of the morning, accommodations in the pew-like benches went from full to packed, bringing the audience total to about forty.

Raw milk decision not expected until July in Michael Schmidt appeal case

From the Canadian Press via the [Kitchener Waterloo] Record.com:

Michael Schmidt (left) shares a celebratory glass of raw milk with supporters

“NEWMARKET, ONT. — Lawyers for the provincial government are arguing that an Ontario judge made critical legal errors when he ruled in favour of raw milk crusader Michael Schmidt.

Last year, justice of the peace Paul Kowarsky threw out 19 charges against Schmidt related to selling and distributing raw milk.

The Health Protection and Promotion Act makes it illegal to sell unpasteurized milk in Canada because it’s considered a health hazard. It is, however, legal to drink raw milk.

Kowarsky ruled that Schmidt’s method of distribution — a cow-share program he had started for raw milk consumers — made him exempt from the legislation.