Southwestern Ontario man hit with hefty fine for running unlicensed milk plant

CLIFFORD — Steven Martin has been fined again for operating an unlicensed milk plant outside rural Clifford, in Huron County.

Justice of the Peace Karl McNamara handed down the $68,750 penalty, including $13,750 victims’ surcharge, after finding Martin guilty in absentia on Sept. 25 in Huron County court. He’s also subject to a probation order requiring him to comply with the Milk Act.

Martin ran the milk plant without a licence between May 15 and Aug. 12 last year in violation of the Act, according to the province. He was charged with the provincial offence after an investigation by Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness’s Compliance, Enforcement and Intelligence Unit. The investigators executed a search warrant at the 45603 Huron Bruce Road address.

The same farm property was recorded as the site of a similar offence in 2021. In that instance, Steven Martin was fined $2,500 plus a victims’ surcharge for operating an unlicensed milk plant ($2,000) and for delivering ungraded eggs ($500). The court rendered that decision just last year. Investigators found that unpasteurized milk, cheese and butter were being processed for distribution from the farm in that case.

However, the press release on the most recent conviction makes no reference to pasteurization or lack thereof, just the lack of licensing.

The legal prohibition on the sale and distribution of raw milk has been a bone of contention in Ontario for years. It’s illegal to distribute raw milk because of the potential health risks, although critics of the law suggest it’s more about preventing rebel milk producers from supplying consumers outside the quota system. The processing-plant licensing requirement similarly ensures compliance with supply management.