5-minute read
Northern Waters: A project to develop Quebec’s blue gold in an ecologically responsible way
Montreal, July 15, 2009 – Seasonal storage of floodwaters from three unexploited rivers that flow into James Bay and the channelling of this water to the Ottawa River would provide for the generation of 14 terawatt-hours of hydroelectric energy per year, producing annual revenues of nearly $2 billion.
2-minute read
Bill 40 is pointless and opens a Pandora’s box, says the Montreal Economic Institute
Montreal, June 12, 2009 – Bill 40 amending the Balanced Budget Act, currently being debated in the National Assembly, is unjustified and opens a Pandora’s box, says Michel Kelly-Gagnon, president and CEO of the Montreal Economic Institute.
3-minute read
“Net neutrality” would get in the way of network development
Montreal, June 4, 2009 – Consumers should be free to choose the Internet price and service combinations that best suit their needs rather than have the government legislate in the development of an industry as volatile as the Internet.
3-minute read
Private investment in telecommunications: an economic stimulus
Montreal, May 28, 2009 – Private investment is an essential part of economic recovery and must be encouraged, according to the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI). “Private investment totals more than $270 billion annually, nearly 10 times as high as the public investment announced in the recovery plan in the federal budget,” MEI president and CEO Michel Kelly-Gagnon said.
4-minute read
A manifesto for a more efficient social democratic model
Montreal, May 25, 2009 – An essay titled Manifesto for a Competitive Social Democracy by Marcel Boyer, vice president and chief economist of the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), says globalization of markets makes it necessary to revitalize social democracy, redefining the roles of governmental and competitive sectors.
1-minute read
Viewpoint on the Quebec government’s debt: potential dangers on the horizon
Montreal, May 6, 2009 – In a Viewpoint published by the Montreal Economic Institute, economist David Descôteaux determines that gross debt as of March 31, 2009, stood at $151.4 billion, or 49.9% of the province’s annual GDP. Quebec’s debt, already above the Canadian average, has started going up again after several years under control. Quebec government spending is on the rise because of growing program costs. Can Quebec’s government finances hold up without unduly raising the debt?
2-minute read
Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 – Michel Kelly-Gagnon receives a Canada-wide award
Montreal, May 1, 2009 – Michel Kelly-Gagnon, president and chief executive of the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), is one of six people from Quebec honoured in the Canada’s Top 40 Under 40™ awards. The winners were chosen from among 1,100 nominees by an independent selection committee made up of 25 leaders from the business world across Canada. The selection criteria were: vision and leadership, innovation and results, impact, community commitment, and business strategy.
4-minute read
According to a Montreal Economic Institute survey on mixed medical practice, Quebec is depriving itself of the equivalent of 790 medical specialists on weekdays
Montreal, April 22, 2009 – Quebec could reduce waiting lists for medical specialists and maximize their supply of available hours if they were allowed to work both in the public sector and in the private sector, and this would add the equivalent of 790 full-time medical specialists on weekdays.
2-minute read
Viewpoint on the surge in federal government spending by the United States
Montreal, March 20, 2009 – We often hear that the Republican presidency of George W. Bush was characterized by a reduction in the size of government and that this is a classic example of the failure of laissez-faire economics. However, a simple examination of spending by the United States Government during the eight years of the Bush administration (see the Figures and Table on the Institute’s website) shows clearly that this is a huge myth, far removed from reality.
2-minute read
Angus Reid – Montreal Economic Institute poll – Budget: the government must reduce the number of civil servants
Montreal, March 16, 2009 – According to an Angus Reid poll commissioned by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), 56% of Quebecers want the government, in a context of economic crisis and lower revenues, to balance its finances by reducing the number of civil servants. Only 7% favour higher fees for public services.