Sylvain Charlebois

Sylvain Charlebois, Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and an expert in agriculture policy, breaks down the complexities of Canada's supply management system. He explains how this decades-old policy regulates dairy production, influencing trade tensions with the U.S. and drawing criticism from Trump. The discussion highlights the challenges of pricing transparency, the evolution of dairy quotas, and the impact of tariffs. Charlebois also addresses the implications for Canadian farmers as they navigate these intricate regulations.

Sylvain Charlebois, the lead author of the 2025 Canadian Food Price Report and head of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, discusses the troubling rise in grocery costs expected for Canadian families. He reveals that food expenses could increase by $800 in 2025, driven by factors like meat prices and currency fluctuations. Charlebois also highlights the shift towards seafood and a potential decrease in dairy costs. The conversation unpacks the emotional toll on consumers and the impacts of climate change and government policies on food pricing.