Why should consumers benefit only from stable dairy prices when there are so many other sectors that could benefit from sup-ply management?
How about the Auto Assemblers of Ontario? Premier Dalton McGuinty might like the concept, as would the Canadian Autoworkers. Each assembler would get an annual quota, divided among one or two models. (The number of choices available today confuses consumers and is wholly unnecessary.) Imports would be strictly limited and quotas to import would be provided to the assemblers. Prices and quotas would be set by a Canadian Auto Com-mission. There are so many possibilities with this particular economic model that should provide broad appeal.
International trade as we know it would have to come to an end, and Canada would need to with-draw from the WTO, but the Dairy Lobby has long told us the WTO is a nuisance. We would rely on supply managed Canadian production for most of life's needs, as organized by a wise government and a series of commissions dedicated to determining the right size of the market and the appropriate price to ensure a fair return. Not only would prices be more stable, but so would supply and employment.
AM: Why does supply management continue in dairy? The same reason that protectionism continues: a powerful lobby group. The cows moo en francais. Consumers are not sufficiently aware, nor are the sufficiently mobilized to act as an effective counterweight to these special interests. Luckily, the Harper government is turning against supply management. Finally, a little bit of that free market ideology that they purport to espouse.
