Montreal, December 14, 2007 – An investigation conducted by the Montreal Economic Institute involving 23 hospitals shows that open operating rooms were in use only 46% of the time during day shifts on weekdays in 2005-2006. Use of operating rooms was even lower on evening shifts, at just 9%, and on weekends, at between 6% and 8%. Part of Quebec’s most modern and most substantial infrastructure is thus being used at far below capacity.

Montreal, December 13, 2007 – The Montreal Economic Institute has awarded two Economic Education Prizes worth $3,000 each to David Descôteaux, a contributor to Commerce magazine, and to Lynn Moore, a business reporter at The Gazette.

Montreal, December 6, 2007 – Why aren’t Canadian retail prices being adjusted more quickly to put them level with U.S. prices and let consumers benefit from the near parity of the two currencies?

Montreal, November 27, 2007 – Canada should be looking to market-based public policies to deal with a broad array of concerns ranging from environmental issues to energy pricing to aboriginal poverty, Preston Manning and Mike Harris say in a new policy paper released today by independent research organizations The Fraser Institute and the Montreal Economic Institute.

Montreal, November 20, 2007 – Promoting the creation of a competitive market for timber would help the forest industry restructure and meet international competition more effectively. The industry could thereby play its major role in Quebec’s development without resorting to short-term solutions based on subsidies and protectionist regulations.

Montreal, October 30, 2007 – Canada’s underground economy represents about 5% of the country’s gross domestic product, amounting to $75 billion. The underground economy includes goods and services that are produced, exchanged or consumed in violation of the law. These activities are illegal either because the law prohibits production or consumption of the goods or services concerned, as in the case of narcotics (referred to as black markets) or because legal goods or services are exchanged under illegal conditions.

Montreal, October 25, 2007 – Nine of the 10 fastest improving schools in Quebec are public schools, according to the 2007 Edition of the Report Card on Quebec’s Secondary Schools, released today by the Montreal Economic Institute and The Fraser Institute and, two independent research organizations.

Montreal, October 25, 2007 – According to a Léger Marketing poll commissioned by the Montreal Economic Institute, nearly seven Quebeckers in ten (68%) favour greater co-operation by high school principals in producing the Report Card on Quebec’s Secondary Schools.

Montreal, October 11, 2007 – Public-private partnerships (PPP), financed by tolls, can provide an advantageous way of carrying out a substantial number of highway renewal projects. In a series of three Economic Notes published by the Montreal Economic Institute, economist Mathieu Laberge says this could enable the Quebec government to save public funds in future reconstruction work on the Turcot interchange, the Metropolitan highway or, eventually, the Louis-Hippolyte-Lafontaine bridge and tunnel. “International experience shows that PPPs can help finance not only the construction but also the renewal of highways and other road infrastructure,” Mr. Laberge states.

Montreal, October 11, 2007 – According to a Léger Marketing poll commissioned by the Montreal Economic Institute, more than half of Quebeckers (52%) hold the view that tolls are the best of several suggested options for getting highway users to finance rebuilding projects. The poll was conducted to accompany the release of three Economic Notes by the Institute on financing the maintenance of highways through public-private partnerships and tolls.