Plant's Future In Balance

By ROBERT IRWIN

Deputy Director of Dairy Fruit & Vegetable
Industries Inspection Branch Richard Bird concedes
the Skotidakis cheese plant hearing is the most
complex he has ever presided over.
Other officials close to the case say whatever Bird
decides, plant owner, 24-year-old John Skotidakis,
has rocked Ontario's milk system.
At press-time, Bird's decision was expected to be
rendered. The plant had been free to operate and
export cheese without a licence. Delegates from
across the province signed a petition at the recent
Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) Geneva Park
convention, calling on provincial Agriculture
Minister Noble Villeneuve to deny Skotidakis a
licence for months.
They also sought penalties against farmers shipping
to the plant. The petition said that "producers
working within the rules and paying for the costs
of maintaining and expanding our market should not
be put at a disadvantage."
Provincial officials told the hearing they're
afraid to visit the plant since they raided it Aug.
25. Hawkesbury OPP officer Vern Gilkes is still
investigating assault allegations and counter
allegations filed by government staff and the
Skotidakis family against each other following the
raid.
A source close to the investigation revealed it is
unlikely any charges would be filed against
provincial investigator Peter Dnistrianskyj, milk
quality inspector Roger Pommainville, or DFO
fieldman Alex Hamilton. Peter Skotidakis, John's
father, recently issued a written apology for his
role, saying he thought his wife was in danger at
the time.
When the latest hearing resumed Oct. 31, officials
and a handful of spectators finally heard John
admit that he had bought milk illegally from a
farmer. He explained, however, that the milk he
received at his cheese plant from Fran¨ois Seguin
of St. Eugene, was used to feed baby goats in his
barn located on the other side of his farm yard.
Dnistrianskyj, Pommainville and Hamilton testified
they observed Seguin's delivery. A receipt book
seized from Seguin during the raid showed regular
deliveries to the plant over a one-year period.
Dairy Farmers of Ontario lawyer Geoffrey Spurr
challenged: "that's the only reason you're
admitting it, because you got caught with your
hands in the cookie jar?" All eyes fell on John as
the seconds ticked slowly by in the hushed room
before he finally answered, "I agree with that." He
said, despite earlier warnings, that he didn't know
it was illegal to buy milk for his baby goats.
John dismissed a newspaper article Spurr read
aloud. In the article John admitted buying
illegally from 15 farmers.
John denied buying milk from Glenn and Susan Conway
of Chute a Blondeau, about 130 kilometers east of
Ottawa. The Conways are appealing a DFO decision to
suspend 621 kg of their quota for the 1995-96 dairy
year for alleged milk sales to Skotidakis.
John Skotidakis also denied buying from Rejean and
Bruno Cardinal of nearby St. Anne de Prescott. DFO
earlier suspended 122 kg of the Cardinal's quota
for this dairy year.
"This type of applicant [Skotidakis] doesn't
deserve a licence. [To give him one] you'd have to
suspend belief," Spurr told Bird.
Donald Good, Skotidakis' lawyer, asked Bird to
consider the plant's importance to the community.
Several small goat farmers testified that they have
no market for their milk without Skotidakis. Good
also cited the plant's contribution to employment
and the local tax base.
Spurr argued that "the integrity of the system is
more important than the community or the value of
the plant."
Good described evidence against Skotidakis as, "at
best circumstantial." He argued that evidence of
wrongdoing was not strong enough to take away his
client's licence.
Agriculture ministry lawyer Leonard Graholm
suggested a performance bond and the possibility of
surveillance or inspection. But he warned the
history of non-compliance must come to a
"screeching stop". 

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