Montreal, September 23, 2010 – Claude Garcia, former president of Canadian operations at Standard Life and associate researcher with the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), analyzed the results of the Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) in a paper published exclusively on the MEI’s website. According to the author, this program has had some positive impact on the number of births in Quebec and on the employment rate of women aged 25 to 54, which now exceeds that observed in the rest of Canada. Nonetheless, given the successive deficits recorded by the plan since its creation ($180 million in 2009 alone) certain benefits should be revised.

Montreal, September 16, 2010 – Innovations such as telemedicine are a way of improving the efficiency of the health care system and enhancing the choices offered to patients. In an Economic Note published today by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), the authors say the current government monopoly in the health care sector has the adverse effect of eliminating most natural incentives for innovation and optimal use of resources. These characteristics are necessary, however, to promote the advance of new models of care like telemedicine.

Montreal, August 25, 2010 – For nearly 60 years, the number of taxis in Quebec has failed to keep pace with population and income growth. Whereas in 1952 there were 4,978 taxis on the island of Montreal, regulations limit this number to 4,445 today. Germain Belzile, director of research at the Montreal Economic Institute, and Vincent Geloso, a master’s student at the London School of Economics, suggest looking in particular toward Ireland and New Zealand in deregulating the taxi industry for the benefit of consumers and of people wishing to enter the industry.

Montreal, June 16, 2010 – The issue of university financing has returned to the centre of discussion on the future of Quebec’s higher education system. A growing number people in the academic world, the business community and the political sphere (including former premier Lucien Bouchard last February) are suggesting that tuition fees be raised. In September, McGill University will be receiving the first MBA students who will have to pay $29, 500 a year for their program, despite opposition from the Quebec Department of Education.

Montreal, June 7, 2010 – The Montreal Economic Institute (MEI)’s Quebec debt clock, which estimates the size of the debt in real time, will rise past the $220-billion mark tomorrow. Germain Belzile, the MEI’s director of research, says there is an immediate need to ensure that public spending is limited to save Quebec from out-of-control indebtedness.

Montreal, May 20, 2010 – With a further increase being proposed in the Quebec Pension Plan contributions paid by workers, Quebec should be looking instead to a reform of its public retirement savings system based on the Chilean experience, as about 30 countries have done. This idea is suggested by Éric Duhaime, holder of a master’s degree from the École nationale d’administration publique and a consultant in democratic development, in an Economic Note published today by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI).

Montreal, May 4, 2010 – Strict regulation of the construction trades is artificially raising construction costs in Quebec, according to an Economic Note published today by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) and prepared by its researcher David Descôteaux.

Montreal, March 31, 2010 – To take account of the latest data from the Quebec Department of Finance in the budget released yesterday, the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) is updating its Quebec debt clock. The clock shows Quebec’s rising debt in real time and may be seen at www.iedm.org.

Montreal, March 19, 2010 – With under two weeks to go before the expiry of collective agreements in the public sector, the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) has issued results of a Léger Marketing poll seeking Quebecers’ views on certain aspects of the negotiations taking place between the government and the Common Front of of public sector unions.

Montreal, March 9, 2010 – With just a few weeks to go before the expiry of collective agreements covering government employees, the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) has issued a Viewpoint on measures for raising productivity in the public service. Germain Belzile, associate researcher at the MEI and lecturer at HEC Montréal, emphasizes the importance of putting work organization on the agenda of negotiations with government employees so as to link future pay increases to higher productivity.