Michael Schmidt’s legal supporter, the Canadian Constitution Foundation is one of many charities troubled by CRA’s new definition of “political activities”

Via theccf.ca blog:

“By Marni Soupcoff  | National Post    The Canada Revenue Agency’s (CRA) definition of “political activities” might sound like an obscure detail of little import. But it is, in fact, one of the main ways in which the government controls this country’s charitable organizations, by restricting them to spending no more than 10 per cent of their resources on advocating for a change in law or government policy.

That means it is considered a political activity for an animal welfare charity to try to convince the public that stricter limits on deer hunting would be a good idea, or for a senior citizens’ charity to run a public campaign urging for crosswalks to be replaced with traffic lights at crossings near seniors’ homes.

And with millions of extra dollars budgeted for investigating political activities as a special project, the CRA has been busy over the past few years auditing dozens upon dozens of Canadian charities to enforce this restriction. These investigations have touched groups on all parts of the political spectrum, draining time, money and the courage to voice concerns about the status quo.

CFIA, Michael Schmidt, Montana Jones in court for first two days of “Prelim”

Observed at the Cobourg & Lindsay Courthouses

Farmer Montana Jones, lawyer Shawn Buckley, and farmer Michael Schmidt, at an earlier court appearance from a few years back. This case has been dragging on for quite some time now.

On the first day of the preliminary inquiry for Montana Jones and Michael Schmidt, a miffed-looking CFIA investigator was observed hanging around the Cobourg courthouse at the end of the day.  He had set himself up in the courtroom first thing in the morning, with his computer and printer, all ready to take notes for the day—and presumably ready to pass notes to Crown counsel.  But he suddenly found himself subject to the same rule as ordinary mortals: namely, a court order excluding witnesses from listening to the testimony of other witnesses.

Raw milk showdown at Osgoode Hall

From the Canadian Constitution Foundation blog, “The Justice Report”, by Derek From:

Photo credit: National Post.

On February 5th, 2014, the Canadian Constitution Foundation will ask the Ontario Court of Appeal whether the government can take away your freedom to eat foods to promote your health when those foods cause harm to no one.

CCF client, Michael Schmidt, grew up in rural Germany where the sale of unpasteurized milk is legal. He obtained a masters degree in agriculture in 1978, writing his thesis on bio-dynamic farming—an early form of modern organic agriculture. He developed the “cow-share” concept in Germany for the purpose of reconnecting consumers and producers to ensure a safe milk supply.

Montana Jones and Michael Schmidt in Cobourg Court, March 27, 2013

Supporters and media are not being encouraged to show up at the courthouse in Cobourg for the proceedings this Wednesday March 27th. As Karen Selick states in the media release below, the actual trial of this case will be many months in the future. Legal counsel for the defense, however, will be seeking changes to travel restriction which are currently a part of bail conditions. 

Montana Jones, Michael Schmidt, sheep Image via Montana Jones

Belleville—The Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF) confirmed today that their clients Montana Jones and Michael Schmidt will appear in Provincial Court in Cobourg, Ontario on March 27, 2013 in connection with charges relating to the disappearance of 31 rare Shropshire sheep in April, 2012.

The sheep were scheduled for slaughter by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on suspicion of having a disease called “scrapie” but they disappeared from Montana Jones’ barn before the CFIA arrived to seize them.  A note saying that the sheep had been taken into “protective custody” was found in the barn, signed by a previously unknown group called the Famers Peace Corps.  The 31 sheep were ultimately found and tested negative for an illness called “scrapie.”

CCF – the legal engine behind Michael Schmidt and the ongoing fight for raw milk freedom in Canada’s courts of law

From Chris Schafer, lawyer and executive director, Canadian Constitution Foundation:

Farmer Michael Schmidt with litigation director Karen Selick and executive director Chris Schafer of the Canadian Constitution Foundation, at this summer's Liberty Summer Seminars.

Late last week the fight for food freedom suffered a setback. The Ontario Court of Justice reversed a lower court decision and found Ontario dairy farmer Michael Schmidt guilty on 15 of the 19 charges related to his raw milk cow-share program. Schmidt had been acquitted of all charges by Justice of the Peace Paul Kowarsky in January, 2010, but the Ontario government and the Grey Bruce Health Unit appealed that decision.

The lawyers at the Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF), a registered charity, defended Michael Schmidt on a pro-bono (no cost) basis and will continue to do so on appeal of this most recent court decision to the Ontario Court of Appeal. The CCF supports Canadians who want to be free to decide what they feed their families and themselves.

Raw milk decision expected Tuesday Sept. 27th — Ontario Court of Justice

Lawyer Karen Selick and farmer Michael Schmidt talk to the media immediately after the appeal hearing,April 13, 2011.

NEWMARKET, ON:  The Ontario Court of Justice has advised that the decision pertaining to dairy farmer Michael Schmidt and the distribution of raw milk will be sent electronically to the lawyers involved on Tuesday, September 27 at 4:00 p.m.

Mr. Justice Peter Tetley apologized for the delay.

Michael Schmidt will receive the decision electronically from his lawyer, Karen Selick, shortly after she receives it. Mr. Schmidt will hold a news conference immediately upon receiving the decision. Reporters are invited to the blue bus where cowshare owners from the Toronto area typically pick up their milk on Tuesday afternoons. The bus will be located in the parking lot of the Christian Community Church, 901 Rutherford Road, Vaughan (west of Bathurst Street, north of Highway 7). Mr. Schmidt will be present until 7:00 p.m.

CCF media advisory — Farmer Michael Schmidt back in court over raw milk

This is what the Canadian Constitution Foundation sent out to the media on Monday. Let’s see who shows up at the courthouse today. We are in the middle of an election after all and some may be preoccupied with that.

Michael Schmidt Back in Court over Raw Milk

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.