The adoption of preferential purchase clauses, like those included in the Buy Canadian Policy, risks increasing costs and reducing quality for infrastructure projects and other public procurements, cautions the MEI in this Economic Note. “By adding criteria of origin, competition is artificially reduced, which leads to reduced quality or higher costs, or a mix of both,” explains Vincent Geloso, senior economist at the MEI and author of the publication.

Quebec drivers pay more than their Albertan counterparts and have access to fewer service points when it comes time to renew their drivers’ licences and vehicle registrations, finds this MEI Viewpoint. “Notably by entrusting licence and registration renewals to the private sector, Alberta has managed to reduce costs for drivers and to offer more service points,” says Gabriel Giguère, co-author of the publication.

The Government of Alberta’s Bill 11, allowing physicians to practise in both public and private care settings, could help improve access to healthcare by increasing the province’s overall treatment capacity, according to this MEI Economic Note.

A natural gas liquefaction plant project like the Marinvest project in Baie-Comeau would represent a strategic opportunity for Quebec to position itself as a reliable supplier to the European market, with global natural gas demand remaining high, shows this MEI study. “Quebec and Canada have a real window of opportunity to meet this demand and strengthen our trade ties with Europe,” explains Gabriel Giguère, senior policy analyst at the MEI.

Long approval delays and price control policies for new drugs harm Canadians with health problems, says an MEI researcher in this Economic Note. “Innovative drugs can change patients’ lives, but Canada continues to lag significantly behind in terms of access to these drugs,” explains Emmanuelle B. Faubert, economist at the MEI.

The current tax-and-benefit system disadvantages low-income seniors who work by penalizing them through the double-barreled impact of benefit clawbacks and steep taxation, finds this MEI report. “A growing number of seniors are working to make ends meet; the very least Ottawa could do is not punish them for doing so,” says Jason Dean, associate researcher at the MEI and author of the report.

Alberta should abandon its price control measures in order to increase stability and choice in the auto insurance market to the benefit of consumers, according to this Economic Note from the MEI. “Price control measures might save drivers a few dollars in the short run, but they end up costing more in the long run by driving away competition and product offerings,” explains Gerard Lucyshyn, senior economist at the MEI and author of the publication.

The pitfalls of overregulating AI could pre-emptively restrict the significant economic gains that would benefit Canadians, according to this MEI publication. “What Europe did was hit the brakes on innovation, thus reducing its global competitiveness,” says Gabriel Giguère, senior policy analyst at the MEI.

Quebec would have an interest in taking a page from France and conceding the operation, maintenance, and financing of its highway network to private companies in order to reduce its asset maintenance deficit, argues this Economic Note by the MEI. “The state of our roads, schools, and hospitals is deteriorating, despite the fact that Quebec is spending more than ever on maintaining and renovating its assets,” says Gabriel Giguère, Senior Policy Analyst at the MEI and author of the note.

Canada’s energy sector is a cornerstone of North American prosperity, but a number of federal policies have weakened its foundation over the past decade, observes this MEI publication. “For a century, this North American energy machine kept churning, irrespective of political winds and to the betterment of everyone on both sides of the 49th parallel,” says Taylor MacPherson, associate researcher at the MEI and author of the report.