Chief Medical Officer of Health, Hazel Lynn, is the highest paid civil servant in Grey Bruce, earning $319,288

It must be a tough job dealing with the likes of raw milk farmer Michael Schmidt. From Denis Langlois at the Owen Sound Sun Times:

Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hazel Lynn and medical student Katrina Piggott [who no doubt earns a lot less] at the health unit building. Photo via Owen Sound Sun Times.

“Dr. Hazel Lynn was Grey-Bruce’s highest-paid public servant in 2012 for the fourth straight year.

The local medical officer of health earned $319,288 last year, 5% more than she received in 2011, according to the latest sunshine list released by the province Thursday.

More than 225 people in Grey-Bruce are on the 2012 Public Sector Disclosure, which is made up of civil servants who received more than $100,000.
Seventy-six employees with the Bluewater District School Board made the list, along with 34 from Grey Bruce Health Services, 31 from the Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board, 15 from Grey County, 14 from the County of Bruce and four from the Grey Bruce Health Unit.

Raw milk outbreak, Canadian style

From a document on the Grey Bruce Health Unit website:

“It is impossible to produce sterile milk directly from an animal source. Sources of contamination include commensal or pathogenic flora of the udder or teat canal, the animal’s skin, fecal soiling of the udder, contaminated milking equipment, water used to clean the milking equipment, and milk storage containers. In addition, commensal or pathogenic organisms from milkers, insects, rodents, birds, and other animals may enter milk.

The consumption of unpasteurized or raw milk has always been dangerous and the same holds true today. Pasteurization of milk kills most potential pathogenic organisms but does not sterilize the milk.

Grey Bruce Health Unit still mulling what to do about further charges in Michael Schmidt raw milk case

From Tracey Richardson in the Owen Sound Sun Times:

A toast for the Queen, whose family are known drinkers of raw milk at the Owen Sound raw milk rally in October 2011 during which milk was seized by Chris Munn of the Grey Bruce health unit. For more on the earlier story around this incident click on the image above.

“The Grey Bruce Health Unit has yet to decide if it will bring new charges against Durham area dairy farmer Michael Schmidt, but medical officer of health Dr. Hazel Lynn promises the matter will not be dropped.

On Oct. 13, Schmidt allegedly distributed unpasteurized milk at a public rally outside the health unit office in Owen Sound. That followed a September Ontario Court of Justice ruling that upheld several charges against Schmidt, brought by the province in 2006, related to the production and distribution of raw milk.

In November, Schmidt was fined $9,150 and placed on probation for a year. He has publicly declared that he will not pay the fine.

Raw milk restrictions seen as “not always a bad thing” in Brantford Expositor; Margo’s reply

From Jim Merriam in the Brantford Expositor:

“The Grey Bruce Health Unit has been engaged in hand-to-hand combat with raw milk fanatic Michael Schmidt for many years.

The unit is responsible for an area that includes Glencolton Farms, Schmidt’s milk-producing enterprise near the southwestern Ontario town of Durham.

The health unit is awaiting advice on how to proceed with new charges against Schmidt, who distributed raw milk at a public rally outside the health unit building early in October.

Dr Hazel Lynn: Michael Schmidt’s hunger strike is “not a rational way of dealing with the problem”

From Tracey Richardson in the Owen Sound Sun Times:

Dr. Hazel Lynn, chief medical officer of health at the Grey Bruce Health Unit

“The Grey Bruce Health Unit is expecting to hear any day now official word on how it’s going to proceed on new charges against Durham-area raw milk farmer Michael Schmidt.

Schmidt distributed milk at a public rally outside the health unit building early in October. Later tests indicated it was unpasteurized.

Health unit lawyers and provincial lawyers have been considering how best to proceed “to stop this blatant breaking of the law,” said medical officer of health Dr. Hazel Lynn….”

Food sovereignty rally at Grey Bruce health unit in Owen Sound in support of Michael Schmidt and legal raw milk

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Grey Bruce health unit boss Hazel Lynn considers enforcement options in the Michael Schmidt raw milk case

From Paul Jankowsky, in the Owen Sound Sun Times:

Dr. Hazel Lynn, MD, FCFP, MHSc - Medical Officer of Health, Grey Bruce Health Unit

A 1994 health inspector’s order that directs Michael Schmidt to stop “manufacturing, processing, preparation, storage, handling, display of unpasteurized milk and milk products” remains in effect even though three charges against the Durham-area farmer for breaching the order in 2006 have been dismissed, Dr. Hazel Lynn, the medical officer of health for Grey Bruce, said Thursday.

Whether the health unit will strictly enforce the order as Schmidt attempts to appeal other convictions related to his raw milk business remains to be seen, Lynn said.

In a ruling released Wednesday, Justice Peter Tetley overturned the findings of a justice of the peace, who in January dismissed all 19 charges laid against Schmidt in 2006 related to the production and distribution of raw — or unpasteurized — milk. Tetley convicted Schmidt of 15 charges but dismissed those relating to the 1994 health inspector’s order.

Libs and Grits trading players in leadup to the big game / election in October ’11

A few months ago we were astonished to see an ex-Liberal grab the Progressive Conservative nomination in Grey Bruce, ahead of popular favourite Michael Schmidt. Of course we all knew that Bruce Power was the 800 lb gorilla in the room, pulling strings to make that happen.

But now we see the pattern repeated as long-time Liberal Rocco Rossi has declared his intention to run for the PC party in the traditional Liberal stronghold of Toronto, raising the ire of many of his Liberal ex-friends in the process.

It will certainly be an interesting election come the fall, but floor crossings like these will only persuade more and more voters that there’s really not much to choose from between the two major parties.