Square Off: Raw milk ruckus

There’s an ongoing battle over whether unpasteurized milk can be sold in Ontario.

Durham dairy farmer Michael Schmidt is fighting the Ontario government’s appeal of his acquittal on charges relating to the distribution of raw milk.
Schmidt was found not guilty in January 2010 of all 19 counts against him.
The Justice of the Peace ruled that there was no evidence whatsoever that any person ever became ill as a result of consuming the unpasteurized milk they obtained through Schmidt’s private cow-share arrangement.
While raw milk is legal to drink, it’s illegal to sell in Canada, and health officials consider it a hazard.

Schmidt argues the charges laid against him under the Health Protection and Promotion Act and the Milk Act are unconstitutional and infringe on his rights and freedoms.
The Canadian Constitution Foundation is acting on Schmidt’s behalf in this appeal.
Its litigation director, Karen Selick joins us by phone, while in studio is Dr Chris Mackie, Hamilton’s associate medical officer of health.