An Angus Reid poll released Tuesday morning suggests a sharp divide between Alberta and Quebec on whether the country’s supply management system should be kept in tact. Of those polled in Alberta, 37% are in favour, 39% say it should be on the bargaining table in trade negotiations and 24% are staunchly opposed to the dairy cartel. In Quebec, 59% support the system, 29% are fine with it being used as a bargaining chip and just 12$ are opposed. In total, half of Canadians polled said the system should remain in place — even at the risk of triggering trade retaliation from the United States. About a third said they like the system, but it should be on the table as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations.According to the national survey of 1,697 people registered with the Angus Reid Forum, 50% of respondents said Canada should “stand firm on supply management, even if it means the United States may retaliate.”Another 35% said the policy could be used as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations, but only as a last resort, suggesting the system is expendable.Just 15% of Canadians said the system should be scrapped outright..WATCH: Carney to ‘carefully consider’ Bloc’s bill to enshrine supply management into law.Overall, support for maintaining the status quo is strongest in Quebec. The province is home to nearly half the country’s dairy farms and is a major political battleground where supply management remains a highly sensitive issue.British Columbia also recorded solid support for defending the policy, at 50%, with just 10% saying Canada should end the system altogether.In contrast, opposition to supply management was highest in Alberta, Saskatchewan (22%) and Atlantic Canada (19%), though defenders of the system still outnumbered critics in both regions..WATCH: ‘DAIRY CARTEL’ — Bernier issues message to Trump on resolving trade war.Supply management governs Canada’s dairy, poultry, and egg sectors by setting production quotas and restricting foreign imports to stabilize prices.The federal government has framed it as a safety net to protect farmers, ensuring fair income for farmers and food security for Canadians. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre have both said they unequivocally support supply management.Meanwhile, critics — including politicians like Maxime Bernier, economists, and food policy experts — argue it distorts markets, inflates consumer prices, restricts access to international markets, and leads to farmers having to dump out hundreds of gallons of milk.President Donald Trump has repeatedly called out Canada’s steep tariffs on dairy and poultry, slamming the Government of Canada for its up to 300% tariffs..‘OFF THE TABLE’: Carney ‘will never discuss’ supply management, Digital Services Tax.The data suggests that while the public may be open to strategic use of the policy in trade negotiations, there remains limited political appetite for dismantling the system entirely.The polling results reinforce the political sensitivity of the issue, especially ahead of future trade negotiations where US demands for market access may resurface..Poilievre confirms he will never cancel controversial dairy supply management.With a 35% tariff on Canadian goods set to take effect on August 1, Canadians appear divided over whether Prime Minister Mark Carney has the right strategy to secure a new trade deal with President Donald Trump.The Angus Reid survey further shows nearly half of Canadians are confident Carney can deliver a favourable agreement, while just as many say they’re not. Among those who trust Carney, 72% say it’s because they believe in his leadership. Those lacking confidence are split — 53% say Carney isn’t the right person to make a deal, while 47% blame Trump’s combative approach.Despite that division, Canadians are clear on one thing: they want a tougher stance from their government. The poll shows 63% believe Canada should take a “hard” line in negotiations, while 37% favour a more diplomatic or “soft” approach..Food expert gets trolled for ‘insulting’ Quebec’s dairy lobby, supply management.Trade tensions escalated after Trump announced the new 35% tariff in a letter made public last week, warning that all Canadian exports would be targeted unless a new deal is signed. In response, Canada’s negotiating team dropped the proposed digital services tax — a key irritant for Trump — but many Canadians remain opposed to making further concessions.The poll reveals 50% of respondents want Canada to stand firm on its supply management system, even at the risk of US retaliation. Trump has repeatedly attacked the policy, which controls prices and quotas on dairy and other products. Just over one-third of Canadians would consider putting it on the table as a last resort, while only 15% support scrapping it outright.US has also been pressuring Canada on issues like water access, critical minerals, and defence spending — with little public support north of the border. Seven-in-10 Canadians oppose giving the US more access to water from the Columbia River or Great Lakes. Meanwhile, two-thirds say Canada should not give priority access to its critical minerals, and most reject greater US access to Canadian banking (53%) or committing to buy more American military equipment (54%).With negotiations continuing and public opinion split, Carney faces the challenge of balancing diplomacy with assertiveness. The next two weeks could define his leadership — and the future of Canada’s relationship with its largest trading partner.
