Donald Johnston and Bernard Lord join the Montreal Economic Institute

Montreal, June 17, 2007 – Hélène Desmarais, chairman of the board of directors of the Montreal Economic Institute, is pleased to announce the appointments of two new board members, Donald J. Johnston and Bernard Lord. Paul Daniel Muller, president of the Institute, stated that “at a time of lively debate in Quebec on health care policy, appointing these two people confirms the Institute’s commitment to developing alternative policy options in the financing and delivery of health services.” Mr. Johnston says “international experience shows that there are all sorts of ways of ensuring the health of a society. It is often worth our while to seek insight from what has worked elsewhere.” Mr. Lord finds that “it is important to look for new solutions that will enable us to meet the demographic challenge and to help people live longer, healthier lives.”

Donald J. Johnston

Donald J. Johnston was secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) from 1996 to 2006. With its membership comprising the 30 most highly developed industrialized countries, the OECD is the world’s most influential economic research body. Mr. Johnston became the first person from outside Europe to hold this position. During his tenure, he launched an in-depth study of health care systems aimed at finding the causes of discrepancies in their efficiency. As a federal cabinet minister from 1978 to 1988, Mr. Johnston served as president of the Treasury Board, Minister of State for Economic and Regional Development, Minister of State for Science and Technology, and Minister of Justice and Attorney-General. In 2006, he joined the law firm Heenan Blaikie as a counsel.

Bernard Lord

Bernard Lord was premier of New Brunswick from 1999 to 2006. At age 33, he became one of the youngest premiers in Canadian history. During his two terms in office, he succeeded in reforming the way a number of public services were provided. In February 2007, Mr. Lord joined the law firm McCarthy Tétrault. He holds three honorary doctorates and in May 2007 became the first professor in residence of the McGill University Health Centre’s Institute for Strategic Analysis and Innovation, established to promote innovation in public policy on health care. Mr. Lord will work at developing strategic studies on health care policy, with a focus on bringing greater responsibility to citizens in managing their health.

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Information and interview requests: André Valiquette, Director of Communications, Montreal Economic Institute, Tel.: 514 273-0969 / Cell: 514 574-0969 / E-mail: avaliquette@iedm.org