George Petty Prize – Water as a strategic resource in Quebec’s economic development

Montreal, May 6, 2008 – The 2008 George Petty Entrepreneurial Idea Prize has been awarded to hydrogeologist Martin Stapinsky, M.Sc., Ph.D., for his article titled Water as a strategic resource in Quebec’s economic development.

The George Petty Essay Contest aims to recognize and reward original and innovative solutions likely to promote our society’s prosperity and well-being. For its second edition, the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) asked the question: “How can we create wealth by exporting water?”

The MEI believes it is necessary to explore the possibility of allowing an industry based on bulk drinking water exports to materialize, giving rise to a new wealth-creating activity. It is important to determine the industry’s potential and the conditions suitable for its development.

In his essay, Martin Stapinsky follows several leads in evaluating water resources as a direct export product and also as a raw material available for industrial activity to create export-bound products. Mr. Stapinsky is currently a director and project leader at SNC-Lavalin Environment inc. He holds a doctorate in Earth Sciences from the University of Ottawa.

The jury members were Marcel Boyer, vice president and chief economist of the Montreal Economic Institute, Michel Patry, director and professor at HEC Montréal, and Pierre Desrochers, professor in the department of geography at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

George S. Petty (1934-2006) over the course of his long career, founded and headed several companies as well as financing and supporting professorial chairs at McGill and Bishop’s universities. He received honorary doctorates from the University of New Brunswick and Bishop’s University and was a Member of the Order of Canada.

The first George Petty Entrepreneurial Idea Prize was awarded in 2007 to André Duchesne for his article titled A new system of tenure for Quebec forests.

– 30 –

Information and interview requests: André Valiquette, Director of Communications, Montreal Economic Institute, Tel.: 514 273-0969 ext. 2225 / Cell: 514 574-0969 / Email: avaliquette (@iedm.org)