Michael Schmidt is a Canadian dairy farmer and advocate for raw milk.U.S. raw milk advocates invite farmer on hunger strike to rally Toronto Star. 26 Oct 2011. (Accessed 1 Nov 2011) His story is documented in the film Milk War.
In January 2010, Schmidt was found not guilty on 19 charges relating to the sale of raw milk in the Ontario Court of Justice.Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990, C. H.7, Sections 18(1), 18(2) and 100 (1) Milk Act, R.S.O. 1990, R. v. Schmidt 2010 ONCJ 9 CanLII On appeal to the Ontario Court of Justice, that decision was overturned. Schmidt was convicted on thirteen counts and imposed fines totalling $9,150 and one year of probation.R. v. Schmidt, 2011 ONCJ 482 A subsequent appeal to the Ontario Court of Appeal was dismissed.R. v. Schmidt, 2014 ONCA 188
In 2010, an injunction was granted against Schmidt barring him from distributing raw milk in British Columbia. In 2013, Schmidt was found guilty of contempt of that order and sentenced to 3 months of imprisonment, suspended for 1 year of probation. In 2015, his appeal was dismissed.
In 2011, Schmidt went on a five-week hunger strike to protest the judgements against him.
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