“By bringing to bear an intellectually rigorous market-oriented philosophy, the Montreal Economic Institute has added a valuable new perspective to public-policy discussions in Quebec.”

“For the past 20 years, the Atlas Economic Research Foundation has been helping develop local think tanks across the globe. In 1999, Atlas provided funding to more than 75 institutions from Albania to the United States, from India to Venezuela.

One of the think tanks we helped was the Montreal Economic Institute. We have been particularly impressed by its rapid development during the past year and a half, whether one looks at the number of studies it published, the amount of material available on its Web site, the media coverage it received, or its overall growth.

In fact, we consider it to be one of the beautiful success stories of recent years in the world of think tanks.”

“The product of a fruitful collaboration between Montreal-area entrepreneurs, academics and economists, the Montreal Economic Institute was founded on the belief that the intelligent application of free-market principles in the development of public policy is the key to insuring the prosperity and long-term welfare of society.

Atlas is proud to have been involved in the development of this young institute, which is becoming an important voice in Quebec public policy debates. This fall the institute is gearing up for a busy program schedule, which will include a series of conferences examining the future of health care in Quebec, the problem of interprovincial tariff barriers, and the question of internet taxation. They will also be launching MEI’s 2000 Report Card on Quebec’s Secondary Schools and Prof. Michel Boucher’s study on Hydro-Quebec.

The impressive Montreal Economic Institute Website, which is available in both French and English versions, includes a Virtual Library, containing full-text essays and articles on a variety of subjects – from public policy studies to the history of economic thought.”

“I am very pleased with the Institute. Congratulations. It’s a great achievement for you, for the first time. I did not know you. I believe that the majority here today did not know you, and you have achieved a most striking, yes striking, start by inviting Mr. Goldsmith to speak here today.”

“The MEI is an increasingly powerful voice in reference to public policy in Quebec and Canada. That’s because it has a marvellous habit of producing studies that tend to contradict hoary shibboleths, and turn sacred cows upside down.”