Bank of Canada case ignored by media

A little off topic here. Yes we realize this is not connected to raw milk or food rights. Still we feel it’s important Canadians hear this news that’s not getting out there through the filters and the blinders of our mainstream media.

From Murray Dobbin, in CounterPunch:

“You know the old aphorism – “If a tree falls in the forest….?” Well, how about this one:  if citizens win a significant victory in court against an autocratic government involving the fleecing of Canadians of billions of their hard-earned tax dollars and no one in the media actually covers it, did it really happen?

That might well be the question being asked over at the Committee for Monetary and Economic Reform (COMER) a very small and low-budget think tank. With their lawyer Rocco Galati (of Supreme Court fame in the Nadon case) they have been steadily winning court battles initiated in 2011 that would oblige the Bank of Canada to return to its pre-1974 practice of lending the government money virtually (.37%) interest free. But the mainstream media, with a single exception, has boycotted the story. Galati believes the Harper government has done some serious arm-twisting to keep the story buried.

Canada’s supreme court refuses to hear appeal of Michael Schmidt milk case

From Global News — “Mon, Aug 18: Raw milk advocate talks about how plans to continue to fight for the right to drink and sell unpasteurized milk.”

Click image to go to Global News page to watch video interview.

From The Canadian Press, in the Toronto Star:

“OTTAWA—The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear an appeal from an Ontario farmer who has long championed the right to sell and drink unpasteurized milk, but he says “it’s not the end of the road.”

The top court’s refusal to hear Michael Schmidt’s case — as is usual it did not provide reasons — means his 2011 convictions of 13 charges under the Health Protection and Promotion Act and the Milk Act that saw him fined $9,150 stand.

Will Michael Schmidt take his raw milk case to the Supreme Court? Or not?

Michael Schmidt talks to reporters outside Osgoode Hall during a break in the Ontario Court of Appeal hearings earlier this year. Michael lost that appeal and might still appeal the case further.

From Scott Dunn/QMI via the Sun News Network:

“OWEN SOUND, Ont. — Durham, Ont., raw milk proponent Michael Schmidt said Monday he’s still pondering whether it’s worth seeking leave to appeal an Ontario Court of Appeal decision against him to the Supreme Court of Canada.

“Is it worthwhile going to the Supreme Court to look at that and throw that ruling out? Or if we just, you know, leave it at that because we’ve moved on anyhow,” he said in a telephone interview.

Michael Schmidt vows to take raw milk fight to the Supreme Court — CBC news

From The Canadian Press via CBC news:

Michael Schmidt talks to a reporter during a recess in his 2011 court appearance, in Newmarket Ontario following which his landmark 2010 acquittal was overturned by Justice Tetley, on appeal from the province of Ontario. Today’s ruling upholds Justice Tetley’s decsision on the legality of raw milk.

“A farmer who has spent two decades fighting for the right to sell unpasteurized milk to willing buyers pledged to take his case to the country’s highest court Tuesday after losing an appeal against his conviction for breaking public health laws.

Speaking minutes after the Ontario Court of Appeal ruling, an unbowed Michael Schmidt said he would continue with his milk operation and legal battle.

“Nothing really changes for me,” Schmidt told The Canadian Press.

“Our plan is to move right to the Supreme Court. That’s the bottom line. We’re not stopping here.”

In its ruling, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a 2011 conviction against Schmidt that saw him fined $9,150 under provincial health-protection laws.

Ontario does not ban the consumption of raw milk and farmers are allowed to drink the milk produced by their own cows. However, the sale of unprocessed milk is banned on the grounds that it poses a significant risk to public health.

“The Supremes” standing for freedom

From Before It’s News.com:

Picture via Before It's News.com

• Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

• Tenth Amendment – Powers of States and people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Goldwater Institute

6.17.11

Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court issued one of the best and most important decisions ever on federalism.  The Court unanimously held that not just states but individuals have standing to challenge federal laws as violations of state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment. This decision is as radical in the direction of liberty as the New Deal was radical in the direction of socialism. Click here to read the decision.

B.C.’s Fraser Health says it will refrain from any further enforcement actions against raw milk cowshares pending the outcome of the constitutional challenge

This just in from Alice Jongerden, via Michael Schmidt:

Raw milk farmers Michael Schmidt and Alice Jongerden share a raw milk toast outside Fraser Health offices in Chilliwack earlier this winter. Photo: The Valley Voice.

We attended court to seek direction in pursuing the constitutional challenge, and scored big.

Government Commits to Stop Aggressive Enforcement of Fresh Milk Regulations Pending Constitutional Challenge

Counsel for the Fraser Health Authority committed to the British Columbia Supreme Court to refrain from taking enforcement action against Fresh Milk cowshares pending the determination of a constitutional challenge initiated by Alice Jongerden and Home on the Range cowshare.

Raw milk farmer Michael Schmidt and home butcher Mark Tijssen in Ottawa

Raw milk farmer Michael Schmidt reports from Ottawa:

Mark Tijssen with Michael Schmidt in front of the Supreme Court building in Ottawa recently

A pig died for a worthwhile cause

It was not clear at the time of the pigs death what impact it would have at the political arena in Ottawa.

B.C. health authorities are paying close attention to comments posted on “The Bovine” blog — so comment away!!!!!

This is according to a recent letter from Gordon Watson, of Home on the Range:

“To all those interested in the Campaign for REAL MILK in British Columbia.

I haven’t seen the letter from Fraser Health’s legal counsel.

I assume that it is a Notice of the Hearing to determine Costs, set for October. There is no compulsion for you to do anything.

You can sign the thing – which only acknowledges that you received Notice – then send it back, if you want.