Mario Dumais has written a report that says supply
management has done little to help farmers, but is costing consumers about $3.9
billion a year.
The report for the Montreal Economic Institute says
consumers lose because supply management ends competition among farmers to
improve productivity which would, in turn, lower production costs and reduce
food prices.
Farmers fail to benefit because they have to buy quota which
is estimated to be worth $30 billion.
Dumais says he understands why farmers are reluctant to
change, but said supply management ought to be gradually phased out.
``I think our
farmers ... are very, very efficient, dynamic entrepreneurs and if we give them
the possibility to develop their creativity and their entrepreneurship, we
would be surprised to realize how they can internationally become competitive,”
he said.
The report is one of the first from Quebec to dare to criticize supply management. The Quebec dairy industry is widely feared for its political clout.
