The 22lr shortage hit Canada over a year ago. Countless threads here on CGN about both shortages as well as stores (mostly in Western Canada for some reason) price gouging ($75 for a brick of 525 Federal, $99 for a brick of 500 Remington, etc.).
Some say there is no shortage and it's all orchestrated by a national conspiracy of gun stores to increase profits.
Some say there is no price gouging and they are just honest businesses who charge what they have to.
Opinions vary.
Even in Ottawa, all store shelves have been empty many times when the shortage was at its worst. The last few months haven't been as bad but from about mid 2013 to early-mid 2014 it was difficult (not impossible) to find 22lr ammo that wasn't marked up to ridiculous prices. Since then it has come and gone in waves about every 2-4 weeks.
I have a 4-5 year stockpile of 22lr ammo that I replace as I shoot so I've always been able to shoot. I also shoot a good amount of target/premium/match grade 22lr ammo (Eley, RWS, Norma) which hasn't been marked up that badly most places and is usually still available due to it's higher regular price. In the past 2 years the Eley Target ammo I usually buy has gone from $50/500rnds to $60/500rnds. That seems to be too much for the regular plinkers who want to blast 1000rnds through a semi in an hour (I do that too from time to time but not with premium ammo).
