Sad, sad day

Dear editor:
Nov. 6, 2006 was a very sad day.
It was a sad day for Paul and Susan Peters and the staff at Sunrise Meats, who had their honesty and integrity maliciously challenged by certain individuals in Rainy River District.
It was a sad day for the consumers of Rainy River District because they now have reasonable doubt that the food produced locally is safe!
It was a sad day for area producers because we no longer are protected under the Food Protection Act.
The Food Protection Act is forcing us to process our farm-raised meat in substandard conditions when a government-regulated facility with an impeccable record with the health department, is at our disposal!
At the appeal held on Monday (Nov. 6), the governing bodies defended the Food Protection Act. That is what they get paid to do. But they failed to demonstrate their ability to look outside the box to see other alternatives.
The verbal continuance granted to the producers by the Ministry of Health in the fall of 2004 allowed us to bring our farm-raised beef to Sunrise Meats until such a time as a licensed slaughtering facility was established.
An intelligent decision had been made, but the Ministry of Health failed us by not putting that continuance in writing.
As of Nov. 6, we have lost the privileges of that continuance. We now have no other options but to haul our live cattle to Dryden or Thunder Bay for slaughter. Those extra costs undoubtedly will turn good citizens into criminals by forcing the processing of meat “underground.”
Farm-processed meat inadvertently will be consumed by the public at social gatherings and family get-togethers. So, is the Food Protection Act really offering us protection?
Laws are designed to protect all citizens. The seatbelt law, for instance, is designed to protect both the driver and the passengers. So, it is a good law.
The Food Protection Act only protects the consumer. But I believe that sometimes common people may have to overlook the law for the common good.
For example, you are driving through the country and you see a little child wandering across the field towards a large beaver pond. The pasture is private property and “No Trespassing” signs are posted.
What is your civil obligation to that child? To turn and run and hope he/she does not drown or do you, as a citizen, trespass on that property to save that child from possible drowning?
I hope this was the premise that the Ministry of Health used in granting us that continuance in the fall of 2004—and that is why I, as a producer, brought my farm-raised beef to Sunrise Meats.
I felt it was the safest alternative in providing safe food for my family.
As food producers in Rainy River District, we have given reasonable doubt to the consumer of our ability to produce safe and wholesome food. To lose consumer confidence at a time when we are trying to establish an abattoir could seriously jeopardize the support of the community.
Sincerely,
Jeannette and
Nico Veldhuisen