No, you don’t pay more for your milk here in Canada.
According to AC Nielson data, the price of 1 L of milk in Canada is $1.51 and in the USA it’s $1.63 (2017).
It can be deceiving because sometimes right across the border milk prices can be very low. However, that’s not consistent across the country. These “lost leaders” are simply a marketing tactic to get consumers into the store.
It’s also worth noting that in the USA you pay twice for your milk: once at the till, then again through your taxes. American dairy farmers are subsidized from the government to the tune of billions of dollars. In 2009, you would need to add $.31 to your price of milk to make up for the amount of subsidies they receive. Canadian dairy farmers do not receive any subsidies from the government.
In countries that have deregulated their dairy system have in fact seen an increase in the price of milk. For example, in Australia, three years after moving away from a supply management system, the price of their milk increased by $0.27/L.
Canadian farmers pride themselves on producing some of the highest quality milk in the world. Unlike the USA, using synthetic hormones is illegal in Canada.
Learn more about supply management here or at the Dairy Farmers of Canada.