Sheep nabbing case: Defendants can keep their lawyer, judge rules Wednesday, June 18, 2014 by JOE CALLAHAN Two people facing charges in connection with the disappearance in 2012 of sheep from a quarantined Northumberland County farm have been given the green light by an Ontario judge to share their lawyer. But they must wait another month before they can put their newly affirmed legal counsel to the test. On Tuesday in an Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg, Judge Lorne Chester dismissed an application to have defense lawyer Shawn Buckley removed as co-counsel for Michael Schmidt and Linda (Montana) Jones. Crown attorney Damien Frost had filed the motion to remove Buckley. Frost had argued that there is the potential for a “cutthroat defense,” whereby one of Buckley’s clients could turn against the other in providing evidence for the Crown. However, in his roughly 40-minute oral ruling on Tuesday, Chester stated that Frost had not provided evidence that there is a “realistic risk” of a conflict of interest in Buckley’s role as co-counsel. Jones, from Hastings in Northumberland County and Schmidt, from Durham, along with Robert Pinnell of West Grey township, in Grey County, and Suzanne Atkinson, Warkworth, Northumberland County, face charges of conspiracy to commit obstruction of a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officer, to transport or to cause to transport an animal under quarantine, and conspiracy to defraud the public of a service over $5,000 under the Criminal Code. Jones is also charged with obstructing a CFIA inspector under the Health of Animals Act and Pinnell faces a further charge of attempting to obstruct justice and another for obstructing a police officer, both under the Criminal Code. Prior to the livestock’s disappearance, Jones, a Shropshire sheep breeder, was embroiled in a dispute with the CFIA over its decision to destroy her flock following a positive test for scrapie, a federally reportable disease that is fatal to sheep and goats. The missing sheep were recovered later on a farm in western Ontario. Court proceedings will resume at a pre-trial hearing scheduled at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg, August 18. BF George Morris Centre folds Institute calls for agri-food industry to work together to reverse troubling trade trend
Looking for the Perfect Mother’s Day Gift for Women who work in Agriculture? Friday, May 2, 2025 Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to show appreciation for the incredible women in agriculture than by supporting products and services created by women in agriculture? Whether she’s managing livestock, growing crops, running a farm-based business—or all of... Read this article online
FCC Predicts Canadian Farmers will Wait to Buy New Farm Equipment Thursday, May 1, 2025 This year may not be the year to buy a brand-new John Deere X Series combine. No matter how great it would be to raise harvest capacity by 45 percent, Canadian farmers may put off their purchase until later. Rising farm equipment prices due to trade disruptions will alter farmers'... Read this article online
Holland Marsh Celebrates 100 Years of Agricultural Excellence Thursday, May 1, 2025 Celebrating a century of farming, community, and natural heritage in Ontario’s “Salad Bowl” 2025 marks a significant milestone for the town of Bradford West Gwillimbury as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Holland Marsh—a region renowned for its rich soil, vibrant farming... Read this article online
How will Carney work with Farmers? Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Prime Minister Carney has a mandate to lead the country, but the country is quite divided, and much of the agriculture industry feels alienated. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre have both pledged cooperation on key issues like U.S. tariffs. As the new... Read this article online
2025 Election Results Prompt Concern and Reflection Among Prairie Farmers Tuesday, April 29, 2025 Users on Agriville.com weigh-in on the 2025 federal election outcome As news broke on April 28 that Mark Carney’s Liberals had won the 2025 federal election, many western Canadian farmers on Agriville.com shared their reactions. The mood was largely one of disappointment, with... Read this article online