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A snapshot of Canada’s Egg Economy


Every year, Canadian farming families produce over 9 billion eggs for Canadians to enjoy. Egg farming is a force in our national economy that directly affects Canada’s urban and rural communities. Here’s a high-level snapshot of the economic benefits of the Egg Economy across the country:

Economic contribution of Canada’s egg industry

British Columbia

  • 2,983 jobs
  • $155M in farm cash receipts
  • $173M to Canada’s GDP
  • $38.8M in tax revenues

Alberta

  • 1,627 jobs
  • $112M in farm cash receipts
  • $173M to Canada’s GDP
  • $33.6M in tax revenues

Saskatchewan

  • 756 jobs
  • $55M in farm cash receipts
  • $76M to Canada’s GDP
  • $15.1M in tax revenues

Manitoba

  • 1,346 jobs
  • $121M in farm cash receipts
  • $101M to Canada’s GDP
  • $23.8M in tax revenues

Ontario

  • 6,996 jobs
  • $415M in farm cash receipts
  • $460M to Canada’s GDP
  • $105.9M in tax revenues

Quebec

  • 3,288 jobs
  • $216M in farm cash receipts
  • $235M to Canada’s GDP
  • $67.1M in tax revenues

Atlantic provinces

  • 1,515 jobs
  • $94M in farm cash receipts
  • $94M to Canada’s GDP
  • $23M in tax revenues
  • British Columbia
  • Alberta
  • Saskatchewan
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
  • Quebec
  • Atlantic provinces

We want to take you beyond the numbers to imagine what our economic footprint looks like province-by-province. We want you to especially imagine what our impact looks like for urban Canadians.

Here are examples of projects across the country that are comparable to the benefits egg farming creates. Bear in mind as you read: These are hypothetical so that you can use your imagination to get a sense of the significance of the humble egg’s impact on Canadian life.

Riding further in Montreal

The economic benefits of the Egg Economy can help Canadians travel farther. The Egg Economy adds $1.3 billion to Canada’s GDP. That’s about the equivalent of a $1.3 billion federal investment into extending Montreal’s subway.1 It will fulfill long-hoped for subway access for thousands of Montrealers in the east end of the city.

Studying the ocean’s future in Atlantic Canada

In Atlantic Canada, our industry adds $94 million to Canada’s GDP. The Atlantic Canadian egg industry’s contribution to Canada’s economy is roughly equivalent to a $94 million investment by the federal government into Dalhousie University’s Ocean Frontier Institute.2 The Institute studies issues like sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine safety, and ocean data and technology. The aim is to contribute to the health of our oceans. It’s the largest federal grant ever received in the history of Dalhousie University.3

Shooting world-class films in Quebec

The Egg Economy supports 3,200 jobs in Quebec. That’s about the same number of jobs that will be generated in Quebec by director Roland Emmerich when he films his next three movies in the province. “Quebec is the best place to make films,” he said, “and I love shooting in Montreal. It’s a great city for filmmakers.”4 You might recognize Emmerich from famous movies like Independence Day and Godzilla.

Healthier living with Ontario eggs

What do eggs and healthcare have in common? Healthier living. In Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, the Egg Economy adds an impressive $460 million to Canada’s GDP. That’s about the cost of redeveloping and rebuilding Women’s College Hospital in Toronto.5

Fishing for success in Manitoba

Lake Winnipeg is a textbook example of a titanic Canadian lake. In fact, the Winnipeg icon is the world’s 10th largest freshwater lake.6 The total value of its fisheries is about $130 million.7 That’s a little more than the $121 million in farm receipts generated by the Manitoba Egg Economy. Lake Winnipeg is the source of an essential watershed feeding four provinces and four U.S. states. Like Canada’s Egg Economy, the lake benefits Canadians across provincial boundaries.

Egg farming is a touchdown for Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan’s Egg Economy adds $76 million to Canada’s GDP. That’s just shy of the Saskatchewan government’s $80 million investment in a new stadium for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the province’s beloved CFL team.8

Hospital redevelopment in Alberta

Every industry, through taxes, plays a small role in funding our healthcare system. It’s something we’re proud of. In Alberta, our industry generates about $112 million in farm receipts. That’s more than the $100 million invested into redeveloping Red Deer hospital.9

Building infrastructure in British Columbia

In British Columbia, the Egg Economy adds $173 million to Canada’s GDP. That’s more than the $150 million the federal government is investing in 92 different infrastructure projects across British Columbia. Among the myriad projects being funded is an Arts and Heritage Hub in Ladysmith and a culture centre at the Huu-ay-aht First Nations.10

Are you excited by the impact of egg farming? Learn more about supply management—the system that makes this impact possible—by clicking here.


1 CTV News
2 Dalhousie University
3 Dalhousie University
4 MTL Blog
5 Younge Street Media 
6 Lake Winnipeg Foundation
7 Lake Winnipeg Foundation
8 CBC News
9 Global News
10 Vancouver Courier