Montreal, September 18, 2007 – Although the municipal administration just required budget cuts amounting to $100 million from its departments and boroughs, it is possible to believe that Montreal could do more and, most of all, better. Mayor Tremblay and officials in other cities could adopt two strategies that have helped reduce the cost of municipal services outside Quebec while enhancing their quality. In an Economic Note published by the Montreal Economic Institute, economist Mathieu Laberge explains that “good municipal governance includes systematic comparisons of efficiency as well as putting services up to competitive tender with the private sector.”

Montreal, August 29, 2007 – In a conference today in Montreal, Marcel Boyer, vice president of the Montreal Economic Institute, and Claude Garcia, former president of Standard Life, stated that partial or full privatization of Hydro-Québec would produce greater value for our water resources.

Montreal, August 23, 2007 – As the commission on the future of Quebec’s agriculture and agrifood sector begins its hearings, the Montreal Economic Institute is estimating that supply management of milk, eggs and poultry costs at least $300 extra per year for a family of four. This amounts to $575 million for everyone in Quebec.

Montreal, August 9, 2007 – Although private financing of health care may be controversial, Quebec has experienced continuous growth in private health spending over the last 25 years. In 2006, it amounted to $8.6 billion. This represents 28.4% of overall health care spending (up from 20.3% in 1981). In an Economic Note published by the Montreal Economic Institute, vice president and chief economist Marcel Boyer and economist Mathieu Laberge review the costs paid by users of health care services.

Montreal, July 19, 2007 – In public discussions on the role and size of government in the economy, certain Quebec intellectuals and politicians can be heard praising the Swedish model. They often neglect to mention that Sweden experienced serious problems with public finances and unemployment in the early 1990s and that it got back on the road to prosperity by engaging in wise and courageous reforms focused on liberalizing its economy.

Montreal, June 18, 2007 – Ending the encouragement of early retirement right away and gradually pushing back normal retirement age from 65 to 67 are among the measures needed to reduce the impact of aging on public finances as well as to ease labour shortages.

Montreal, June 17, 2007 – Hélène Desmarais, chairman of the board of directors of the Montreal Economic Institute, is pleased to announce the appointments of two new board members, Donald J. Johnston and Bernard Lord. Paul Daniel Muller, president of the Institute, stated that “at a time of lively debate in Quebec on health care policy, appointing these two people confirms the Institute’s commitment to developing alternative policy options in the financing and delivery of health services.” Mr. Johnston says “international experience shows that there are all sorts of ways of ensuring the health of a society. It is often worth our while to seek insight from what has worked elsewhere.” Mr. Lord finds that “it is important to look for new solutions that will enable us to meet the demographic challenge and to help people live longer, healthier lives.”

Montreal, May 29, 2007 – Despite warnings from economic and public affairs observers, Quebec continues to watch as its economic situation deteriorates in comparison with its competitors, according to the latest available data. In an Economic Note published by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), Marcel Boyer, the Institute’s Vice President and Chief Economist, says it is time to end Quebec’s relative underperformance in economic development, demographic growth and job creation. He concludes that courageous reforms are needed, relying on “greater individual responsibility, the liberalization of prices, and competition in the production and distribution of public services.”

Montreal, May 29, 2007 – Le compromis anticipé entre le PLQ et le PQ sur le budget Jérôme-Forget pourrait se réaliser aux dépens de l’équilibre budgétaire et aggraverait alors une situation déjà très difficile au niveau des finances publiques. Dans un commentaire publié aujourd’hui, l’Institut économique de Montréal (IEDM), explique, sur la base des déficits cachés identifiés par le Vérificateur général, que le cadre financier du budget Jérôme-Forget est en réalité déficitaire et que le gouvernement devrait préciser comment il compte assurer un véritable déficit zéro. Ce commentaire est co-signé par le président de l’Institut, Paul Daniel Muller, le vice-président et économiste en chef, Marcel Boyer et l’économiste Norma Kozhaya.

Montreal, May 21, 2007 – With the first budget from Finance Minister Monique Jérôme-Forget coming soon, the Montreal Economic Institute is urging the Quebec government to abide by generally recognized accounting practices in the public sector, starting now. “The population as a whole must be able to get a true picture of public finances,” says Paul Daniel Muller, President of the Institute. “To achieve this, the government must do away with dubious accounting methods in its budget and financial statements that have enabled it to hide deficits. This is a simple matter of good governance.”