A Canada without maple syrup? Say it ain’t so!

A late spring hurt Canada’s maple syrup production for the second consecutive year. And next spring’s production forecast is even worse, sparking fears one of our national symbols might be in danger of drying up.

For the time being, at least.

The warmer El Nino weather is expected to affect several commodities, including maple sap, said Sylvain Charlebois, professor of distribution and food policy at the University of Guelph’s Food Institute.

"I see little evidence that would encourage anyone to see a good year in 2016," he said in an interview.

The impact would hit Quebec, the world’s dominant maple syrup producer, along with Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and syrup-producing American states such as Vermont and New York.

But sugar shacks on both sides of the border aren’t ready to call off pancake breakfasts just yet.

"Nobody can predict the production of each year," said Paul Rouillar, deputy director of the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers.

He also doubts weather poses a long-term problem for Quebec, because producers could easily move slightly north, to colder parts of the province.

Matthew Gordon, executive director of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association, shrugged off fears of taps running dry because of El Nino.

"It certainly could have an impact, but I wouldn’t base any business decisions on it right now," he said, adding the real test will be the spring weather.

Syrup needs cold nights and warmer days to flow.

Canadian maple syrup flow decreased 6.1% last season, according to Statistics Canada.

Only Ontario’s production remained somewhat stable.