On November 17, a conviction on a charge was registered against Dr. Brian Hill in the Ontario Court of Justice in Woodstock for a global count of violating section 35(1) of the Health of Animals Act. He received a 12 month conditional sentence, resulting in nine months to be served as house arrest.
Following a complaint, a Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigation revealed inconsistencies in the information provided by Dr. Hill to the complainant, Holstein Canada and to the CFIA. The information appeared to misrepresent the numbers of embryos collected from the complainant's cows and the sires used for fertilization.
The investigation concluded that between January 2006 and December 2007, Dr. Hill made false written statements in 103 Veterinary Certificates to six veterinary inspectors regarding 7,670 embryos he exported. This is contrary to section 35(1) of the Health of Animals Act, which states that no person shall obstruct or hinder or make any false or misleading statement either orally or in writing to an analyst, inspector or officer who is performing duties or functions under this Act or the regulations.
- 30 -
For more information, media may contact:
Marilyn Taylor (English)
Communications Specialist, Ontario Area, 519-837-5852
JoAnne Ford (French)
Area Communications Manager, Ontario Area, 519-826-3027
