3-minute read
Consumers and drivers would benefit from a reform of the taxi industry
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.
3-minute read
Raising university tuition fees does not reduce access
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.
2-minute read
Quebec’s debt will rise past $220 billion tomorrow
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.
4-minute read
Reforming the Quebec Pension Plan to give control back to workers
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).
3-minute read
Strict labour regulations raise construction costs in Quebec
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.
3-minute read
The Montreal Economic Institute updates its Quebec debt clock
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.
2-minute read
Léger Marketing poll on negotiations with public sector unions: Only 10% of Quebecers support the union demands
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.
2-minute read
Salary increases for government employees must be conditional on higher productivity
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.
3-minute read
Budget Flaherty – Un budget déficitaire, mais l’approche de réduction des dépenses est la bonne
Montreal, March 4, 2010 – Les chiffres dévoilés aujourd’hui par le ministre des Finances du Canada, Jim Flaherty, confirment que l’administration fédérale s’est endettée d’un montant de 53,8 milliards $ en 2009-2010 et prévoit devoir creuser le déficit de 49,2 milliards $ supplémentaires en 2010-2011. Selon Germain Belzile, économiste et chercheur associé à l’Institut économique de Montréal (IEDM), dix ans d’équilibre budgétaire seront donc dilapidés en seulement deux ans de déficit.
5-minute read
Générosité des régimes de retraite du secteur public : au-delà des chiffres, le bon sens
Montreal, March 3, 2010 – À un mois de l’échéance des conventions collectives des employés du secteur public, l’Institut économique de Montréal (IEDM) publiait une analyse préparée par Pierre Girardin, actuaire, en collaboration avec Michel Kelly-Gagnon, p.-d.g. de l’IEDM, au sujet des régimes de retraite des employés du secteur public. L’objectif était d’évaluer la générosité de ces régimes de retraite et de les comparer avec ce qui se trouve dans le secteur privé.