Does Canada need to dismantle supply management in the Trans-Pacific partnership?

With the recent news that Canada is being formally invited to join the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), media coverage has once again focused on dairy, egg, and poultry supply management. It is asserted by some that now it is clear that we must rid ourselves of this expensive and antiquated system. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of what marketing boards in supply management do and to assess how it is that dismantling them would help Canada in its participation in the TPP. It concludes with some ideas as to what the real issues will be for Canada in the TPP and how the policy dialogue could better proceed.