Le ministre canadien des Finances Ralph Goodale annonçait la semaine dernière que l’excédent budgétaire fédéral pour 2004-2005, que le gouvernement prévoyait être de 4 milliards de dollars, atteindra 9 milliards, soit le même montant que l’année précédente. Le ministre prévoit affecter une partie de ce montant au remboursement de la dette et le reste à de nouvelles dépenses, comme le réclament de nombreux groupes de pression. L’IEDM rappelle pour sa part qu’une baisse des impôts comporterait des avantages beaucoup plus significatifs pour l’économie canadienne.

Le gouvernement entreprend cette semaine une consultation sur la politique énergétique. Au coeur du débat, l’analyse des coûts de production et des prix de vente de l’électricité permet d’apercevoir certains résultats pervers de la politique actuelle. Ainsi 1) l’interfinancement nuit aux économies d’énergie par les consommateurs résidentiels et
2) l’exportation d’électricité est de loin plus payante que d’en vendre à des alumineries à un tarif basé sur le coût moyen.

A widespread myth holds that our personal income tax system with its progressive marginal rates is meant to embody values of fairness, justice and "social solidarity." Supporters of this system argue that tax rates should rise with income as a way of creating a more even "level of sacrifice" among citizens. It is possible, however, to show solidarity in taxation without relying on progressive rates. Social solidarity can also be financed through a flat rate tax system in which, lest we forget, higher-income individuals would continue to pay more in taxes in absolute terms.

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.

Federal and Quebec health laws are extremely complex. Many people believe, mistakenly, that recourse to the private sector is forbidden for all practical purposes. However, Quebec already has more private clinics than any other province. Certain grey zones exist, and governments tolerate practices that might not see the light of day if the law were applied to the letter. But there clearly exists space for developing private services outside the government monopoly.

A reform now taking place is modifying the social assistance program, in particular by increasing the appeal of work and encouraging recipients to make more effort to work. For this to happen, paid work has to be more remunerative than the alternative, which consists of receiving a cheque and putting one’s time to other uses.

The amounts spent on drugs in the Canadian health care system have risen sharply over the last few years. In this context, the cost of new patented drugs is a source of controversy. According to an increasingly widespread view, most patented drugs, other than a few truly innovative products, are just “me-too” copies, with no value added, that cost less to produce than we are told. How much are new drugs really worth? And who should end up deciding whether their use is justified?

The Canadian health care system has deteriorated in recent years despite the injection of billions of extra dollars in government funds. A simple increase in public spending will not be sufficient to solve the problems or to meet the needs of an aging population. Major changes are required to limit costs by improving efficiency in the provision of health care.

It is difficult to envisage a reform of public transit in Quebec without the spectre of privatization brandished. Over the last 15 years, however, public authorities in many metropolitan areas the world have established alternative strategies for developing and managing urban transport necessarily resorting to privatization. Their success has provided for a renewal of public transit.

This book presents the basic principles of economics in a simple and very clear style. Are there advantages to government intervening in the economy? What effects does this intervention have? Why is freedom important in economic matters? Are there cases when it is necessary to limit or even stifle this freedom? How should wealth be produced? How should it be redistributed? Is competition a good thing or a bad thing? And is it inevitable? Regarding the rich, the poor and taxation, what can be considered fair? Is there reason to be scandalized, as happens in some circles? The book also examines special cases: drug prices, the financial problems of the health care system, expenses imposed on students, and other topics as well.