The tradition of celebrating Valentine’s Day by exchanging greetings and special gestures with loved ones goes back to the Middle Ages. The earliest known piece of writing in this respect is dated 1415. With the noble and idealistic concept of forming couples still in existence today, can we rule out all rationality in amorous deeds? Does the behaviour of men and women who are seeking partners not obey principles that go beyond passion to encompass an element of reason?

In Canada, regulation of securities trading and related activities falls under 13 separate provincial and territorial bodies, most of them called securities commissions. The federal and Ontario governments argue that these should be replaced by a single national (or interprovincial) body. The other provincial and territorial governments oppose this and, since 2004, have created a mutual recognition process called the passport system.

Onze idées pour changer le Québec : l’IEDM lance un débat ! L’IEDM propose aux Québécois une discussion autour d’idées de réformes qui pourraient être mises en vigueur d’ici cinq ans, la plupart d’entre elles d’ici 12 ou 24 mois. Ces idées ont été discutées dans le Journal de Montréal du 12 janvier 2008.

As questions abound regarding management and resource use in the public health care system, it is important to evaluate the place the private sector could occupy. With this first Economic Note on the use of health care resources, the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) wishes to add some thoughts on the optimization of operating blocks in Quebec. A later Economic Note will look into the supply of human resources in the health care system.

Canadian consumers believe that they are not getting the full value at the check-out counter of the substantial appreciation in the Canadian dollar during the last five years. An exchange rate appreciation makes exports more expensive and imports less expensive. While this creates a more competitive selling environment for the producers of exportables, at the same time it provides a more favorable environment for consumers and importers.

Throughout the Canada Strong and Free series, we have promoted a vision of Canada that brings the best quality of life, the highest levels of prosperity, and the fullest experiences of democracy to the citizens of this great nation, and a presence on the world stage befitting our potential. We have argued that policies based on freedom and responsibility are not only intrinsically valuable in their own right but have the greatest potential to achieve these goals for Canadians. Here we outline the recommendations that arise from this vision.

The crisis in Quebec’s forestry sector is attracting plenty of attention because of the many plant closings and resulting job losses. But this is hardly the first time the industry has faced a crisis. In the late 1970s, to make up for its declining competitiveness, the Quebec paper industry invested $1.25 billion of its own funds and $250 million from the federal and provincial governments to modernize its installations. Strong market growth meant that the higher productivity from these investments could be achieved without job losses.

The underground economy (or illegal economy) covers market production of goods and services, legal and illegal, which are sold or purchased illegally. It is composed of both the irregular economy, where legal goods and services are produced and exchanged under illegal conditions, and (productive) black markets, the preserve of goods and services that are illegal but satisfy all the parties involved. History presents us with a large number of prohibition and taxation events that gave rise to contraband. However, smuggling and other forms of underground markets are not only a historical phenomenon, but an everyday fixture of contemporary economies: drugs, alcohol, fuel, tobacco, etc. One should not think of the underground economy as only black markets or smuggling on irregular markets. The irregular economy mainly includes otherwise legal services sold “under the table” like labour services sold to businesses or individuals (in residential construction and renovation, for example). […] To deal with the underground economy, four public policy approaches are possible.

The Report Card on Quebec’s Secondary Schools provides an annual, independent measurement of the extent to which each school meets basic needs. The Report Card thus serves several purposes. For one thing, it facilitates school improvement, and for parents who have a choice between several educational institutions, it can help them make an enlightened decision.

Quebec’s road network, much of it built in the 1960s and 1970s, is aging quickly. Highways in Quebec have reached a critical point and will need to be rejuvenated in the coming years. Other countries have found ways of ensuring adequate, stable financing to maintain their roads. The Quebec government could look into new means of conducting road rehabilitation projects. International experience in public-private partnerships (PPP) can offer worthwhile solutions as the government struggles to maintain the road network adequately.