For decades, Canada’s supply management system has acted as both shield and stabilizer for the country’s dairy sector. By regulating production, fixing quotas, and limiting imports through tariff rate quotas (TRQs), the model has provided farmers with stable incomes, preserved rural communities, and sustained a form of food sovereignty. But as the Globe and Mail recently reported, Ottawa is now considering regulatory changes that could allow more U.S. dairy products onto Canadian shelves — a signal that the system is under growing strain.
