A Conservative MPP is working on a private members bill that will allow farmers to sell their fresh meat, produce or milk directly to consumers.
Perth area MPP Randy Hillier says his consumer-farmer bill will be presented in the Ontario legislature when the house resumes sitting this month.
Hillier is a strong advocate of raw milk producer Michael Schmidt of Durham and his bill would recognize the legitimacy of purchasing unpasteurized milk products directly from a farm.
But Hillier says Schmidt is just one example of too much government regulation when it comes to farm products.
You can buy fresh fruit directly at the farm, but he says the government doesn’t allow you to buy live chickens, or fresh milk products at the farm gate.
The MPP says he would never support legislation that allows raw milk to be distributed in grocery stores, but he says… “why can’t the consumer decide what they should eat.”
Hillier says his private members bill will likely be a tough sell to the Ontario Liberals but he feels it is important to discuss the issue.
