In theory, supply management is designed to protect both farmers and consumers — a uniquely Canadian invention meant to ensure stability, fairness and predictability in our food supply.

But 2025 has shown how fragile that promise has become.

Canada is now facing one of the most severe chicken shortages in recent history, and consumers — not farmers or processors — are paying the price.

For decades, chicken has been the steady protein of the Canadian diet: Versatile, affordable and insulated from global price swings. Yet this year, the system meant to guarantee a consistent supply simply failed. The Chicken Farmers of Canada, the agency that sets production quotas in eight-week “A-periods,” has underproduced for nine consecutive cycles — something unseen in over 40 years.

Supply management rests on three pillars: Domestic production, controlled imports, and storage reserves. When one falters, the other two usually cushion the impact. This time, all three failed at once.

After an oversupply in late 2023, the industry reduced allocations to avoid another glut heading into the 2024 holiday season. It was a cautious move that backfired. By early 2025, demand rebounded sharply as record-high beef........

© Edmonton Sun