“As the Canadian government continues their targeted harassment of Michael Schmidt, farmer at Glencolton Farms, the legal cases continue through the Canadian court system. Michael Schmidt’s 23 year-battle with the Canadian government has entered a new chapter. This time, the Canadian government has taken a new approach by targeting all consumers of raw milk in addition to the farmers….”
“In February of 2016, the Provincial government filed an application for injunction against Michael Schmidt, his wife and son and, for the first time, all the herdshare members or anyone involved in distribution including property owners who allow their space to be used as a drop site for Glencolton Farms.
At a past court hearing on March 16, 2016, the court set a date in September for the final hearing on the applications. Since that time, Michael and attorneys for the coop have successfully argued for a separate hearing on the motion to have a jury trial. It is unlikely that this case will be heard as soon as September. Whether it happens sooner or later, Michael Schmidt and the Canadian people need your support to continue this fight and to set a beneficial precedent.
Michael and Elisa recently sent out a message to their supporters reminding them that legal fees are necessary and should be shared by all with an interest in Glencolton Farms or raw milk from any source. Since this case will be watched throughout Canada and the US, it is imperative that those of us who care about food access and the farmers who feed us also take note and contribute where we can.
Letter from Michael and Elisa to supporters:
(For additional information and background on the case, the Bovine has comprehensive coverage of the cases and actions against food freedom related to Glencolton Farms.)
June 2016
Dear Supporters,
By now you must know that Government is very serious to shut down any attempts of people to make an informed choice about their milk, their food and their individual relationship to their farmer and farmer to their shareholders.
This battle is going on for me now over 22 years. I have been in and out of court so many times that it is impossible to even count. Endless nights are spent on formulating defence, filing papers, responding to new threats.
Our beloved farm has been the focus of at least 3 major raids with up to 25 armed officers.
I have fines of over 100 000 dollars hanging over my head, got a jail sentence in BC for helping a raw milk farm there.
We are now in our last round. There is so much at stake that we at Glencolton Farms might as well pack it in unless supporters of food freedom understand that we cannot do it alone.
We are willing to fight. But we are not willing to worry 24 hours a day how to pay the lawyer to defend that last action.
We keep shelving out money, some money comes in from some members and a trickle here and there from other farmers. That is NOT enough.
We are not able to continue this fight unless we know that everyone will do ALL you can to raise legal funds.
We don’t have the money either, but we have to keep paying and paying and paying out of our last resources.
We are asking all our supporters and all those who want food freedom to please step up:
10 dollars a week, or 50 dollars a month or 500 dollars in one shot.
Unless we raise these funds we will have absolutely no chance of succeeding.
So we might as well pack it in now put a for sale sign up and look back in 10 years how we have miserably failed to bring about positive change.
Thank you for your support. It is through a true community and through our efforts together that we will succeed. Please donate directly to our legal expenses here.
The time is now
Elisa and Michael”
Go to the RealMilk.com website to watch a video of Michael and Elisa in conversation with a government agent during the course of the latest (2015) raid on Glencolton Farms.
Please contribute to support this legal defense through the Our Farm Our Food GoFundMe page.
The Bovine 