3-minute read
Des syndicats réticents à plus de transparence financière
Le lundi 10 décembre 2012 – Malgré un sondage Nanos de 2011 révélant que 95 % des Québécois sont en faveur de la divulgation des finances syndicales, une proportion plus forte que dans le reste du Canada, le projet de loi 377 déposé en ce sens par le député fédéral Russ Hiebert rencontre l’opposition des organisations syndicales très réticentes à cet
2-minute read
Quebec’s debt will increase by $22.9 million a day according to the Montreal Economic Institute’s Debt Clock
November 20, 2012 – Quebec’s public sector debt now stands at 251.5 billion dollars. Following the tabling of the provincial budget, the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) updated its real-time Quebec Debt Clock. From now to March 31, 2014, the Clock will advance by 16.7 billion dollars, the equivalent of 22.9 million dollars a day or $265 a second.
3-minute read
A tax to protect public health?
Thursday November 15, 2012 – For several years, the Weight Coalition has requested the introduction of a soda tax to fight obesity. Along the same lines, the Ontario Medical Association recently called for a tax on foods deemed to be too high in sugar or fat. Despite the good intentions behind these proposals, a new publication from the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) suggests that apart from making the government fatter, this type of action will not really have any impact on weight.
2-minute read
Are environmental groups too radical? That’s what half of Canadians think
Montreal, Tuesday, October 16, 2012 – Canadians’ opinions of fossil fuels and of Alberta’s oil sands, Canada’s main source of oil, are much more favourable than one might have supposed at first glance. That’s what is shown by a Léger Marketing poll commissioned by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) and released today.
3-minute read
71% of Canadians think significant efforts have been made to limit the environmental impact of the oil sands
Thursday, October 11, 2012 – According to a Léger Marketing poll commissioned by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), Canadians overwhelmingly support the development of the oil sands, as long as continued efforts are made to limit the associated environmental impact. Pierre Desrochers and Hiroko Shimizu, associate researchers at the MEI, wanted to find out what measures are actually taken by this industry to protect the environment.
3-minute read
The case of Google illustrates the flaws in antitrust laws
Tuesday, September 25, 2012 – What has all the appearances of a technological war is being transformed into a legal battle in the case of Google in Europe and in the United States. The popular search engine must defend itself against charges that it has abused its dominant market position to the detriment of users, who spend 3.4% of their Internet time using search engines.
2-minute read
“I waited around 15 – 20 minutes before seeing the nurse and then the doctor.” –MEI video report on the Swiss health care system
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 – As a part of the Montreal Economic Institute’s research program on the various health care systems offering universal coverage, its vice president Jasmin Guénette visited Switzerland to see how health care is delivered there. From the testimony of patients, doctors and administrators, we discover a health care system at the cutting edge of technology based on solidarity and freedom of choice in which waiting lists are not even a preoccupation.
3-minute read
It is false to claim that Canada’s wireless industry is falling behind other developed countries
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 – On the eve of an eagerly anticipated decision from the CRTC regarding the regulation of wireless services in Canada, it is important to have a clear understanding of the situation. Contrary to what is sometimes claimed, the Canadian wireless industry is doing well compared to other countries based on various international rankings.
3-minute read
Agricultural marketing boards and supply management are costly… for producers
Tuesday, August 28, 2012 – Canadian buyers are not the only ones paying the price for a supply management system that costs them around $3.9 billion a year. A new study from the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) signed by Mario Dumais shows that producers themselves are shackled by a vast network of 80 agricultural marketing boards that hold a monopoly on marketing and that, in certain cases, restrict production.
2-minute read
The CBC should refocus its mandate on information and culture
Thursday, July 19, 2012 – The CBC president’s recent declaration that “Canadian content and culture would be the single ‘biggest failed promise’ of a purely free market broadcast model” represents a point of view that should guide the revision of the crown corporation’s mandate. Indeed, this mandate, which has not been altered for at least two decades, needs to be updated in order to clearly reflect this mission, according to the author of a new publication by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI).