Montreal, March 31, 2022 – While lowering interest rates has a short-term stimulative effect, maintaining low rates over a longer period of time may have the opposite effect, of inhibiting growth and productivity improvements, according to a Montreal Economic Institute researcher.

Montreal, March 23, 2022 – As the Quebec government tables its 2022-2023 budget, the MEI’s researchers are emphasizing the substantial growth of portfolio spending in recent decades, taking into account the latest numbers, and presenting different scenarios that illustrate its magnitude.

Montreal, March 17, 2022 – With recent international events highlighting the importance of guaranteeing the energy security of Western countries, more than half (52%) of Quebecers think that their province should develop its own oil resources rather than importing all the oil it consumes, while just 28% are opposed to this and 20% are undecided. Not only is Quebec sitting on substantial reserves of oil and natural gas, but the demand for hydrocarbons in foreign markets is growing and will remain significant for several decades to come. Quebecers want to seize this opportunity.

MONTRÉAL, le 15 mars 2022 – Alors que le gouvernement du Québec a annoncé aujourd’hui l’élimination des limites quantitatives de boissons alcoolisées qu’une personne peut rapporter au Québec après les avoir acquises dans une autre province ou un territoire du Canada, nos chercheurs ont souhaité réagir.

Montreal, March 3, 2022 – With the pandemic having lasted nearly two years now, the Canadian population has had to spend more time online, whether for work, education, or entertainment. Almost half of the working population started working more from home. A substantial share of students also had to pursue their studies remotely. With online presence having increased, the majority of Canadians (55%) now spend five hours or more a day online.

Montréal, le 21 février 2022 — Force est de constater que l’augmentation du prix des logements qui sévit depuis quelques années persiste. Cette situation affecte maintenant, à différents degrés, tant les grandes villes que les plus petites municipalités. Cet enjeu doit être pris au sérieux dès maintenant. Avant de penser à réglementer davantage ou à ajouter des taxes, les trois piliers de gouvernements doivent évaluer quelles mesures en place favorisent la flambée des prix.

Montreal, February 17, 2022 – The Quebec government, through Health Minister Christian Dubé, will soon present its plan to overhaul the health care system. The Montreal Economic Institute is proud to unveil a major study by economist Maria Lily Shaw on the best practices of the health care systems of Sweden and the United Kingdom—two examples that Quebec should follow if it really wants its reforms to be successful.

Montreal, February 10, 2022 – The economic situation in recent years has pushed construction project costs up considerably. While this is true across the country, the regulatory framework governing the construction industry in Ontario poses additional challenges that further raise costs. After analyzing the application (or not) of Bill 66 by the cities Hamilton, Toronto, and the region of Waterloo, MEI researchers concluded that this bill has some blind spots, and that maintaining the status quo will have major repercussions not only on the province’s construction industry, but also on Ontario taxpayers.

Montréal, le 2 février 2022 — Aujourd’hui, le ministre de l’Énergie et des Ressources naturelles, Jonathan Julien, a déposé son projet de loi visant à interdire l’exploitation des hydrocarbures au Québec. Les chercheurs de l’IEDM croient que le gouvernement du Québec fait fausse route en offrant des indemnisations inéquitables aux entrepreneurs et sont d’avis que l’interdiction de l’exploitation des hydrocarbures est une bien mauvaise décision tant pour l’économie que pour l’environnement.

Montréal, le 26 janvier 2022 — Parce que la hausse du taux cible du financement à un jour est considérée comme une des solutions pour freiner l’inflation, les chercheurs de l’IEDM affirment que la Banque du Canada doit hausser les taux lors de la prochaine annonce du 2 mars 2022. Cependant, ils considèrent important d‘éclairer la population sur les effets à prévoir sur eux et sur les politiques publiques.