Not only do all the other agriculture industries in Canada manage just fine without supply management, it is possible for an industry to transition away from heavy protection and for it to thrive in doing so. When Canada signed the original free trade agreement with the U.S., it agreed to end what had been huge protection for Ontario’s wine industry. While originally winemakers were worried about what would happen to their industry (and lobbied extensively to prevent opening up the market), a smart transition plan (including government assistance) took the wine industry from protected to competitive – and the industry took off, reaping far greater success in terms of sales, profit AND quality.
