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Perhaps he means by comparison with the U.S.? If so, prices tend to be about 35 per cent higher in Canada than in the U.S. across the board for a myriad of reasons. U.S. milk and eggs are less expensive there because of very cheap Hispanic labour, and various subsidy programs operated by the U.S. government. It’s an apples-to-oranges situation.

Bernier also suggests that gutting the supply-managed system would lower prices. But B doesn’t necessarily follow from A. As shown above, in deregulated Australia and New Zealand, the price for eggs and milk are higher than in Canada. Further, decimating supply management would clear the way for American dairy and egg products, or agri-business, to move in and take its place. A percentage of that new U.S. milk would contain growth hormone (which is illegal under Canada’s supply-managed system) that some U.S. dairy farmers use to increase milk production.

Finally, can it be the case, as Bernier insists, that the existence of supply-managed sectors restricts growth in the farming industry and prevents job creation in this sector? Absolutely not.

In 2012, Canada was the world’s fifth-largest exporter of agricultural products, even ahead of Australia. Canadians do this even though we have comparably much less arable land, where we rank 33rd worldwide. Clearly, supply management does not restrict Canada’s access to others’ markets at all.

There are no longer-term rewards for getting rid of supply management, as Bernier seems to believe. He is wrong on every count as is demonstrated by even a passing idea of the real situation in Australia and even the U.S. Canadian prices of milk and eggs are the same or lower than in deregulated Australia. However, Canada’s system also benefits both consumers and producers, a critical factor.

To my mind, the data demonstrate that we should enhance supply management, not work to kill it.

Bruce Muirhead, Ph.D, is associate vice president of external research and a professor of history at the University of Waterloo, where he holds the Egg Farmers of Canada chair in public policy.