Léger Marketing poll commissioned by the Montreal Economic Institute.

Index of Economic Freedom’s 2007 Edition.

In the past dozen years, the number of people on social assistance has fallen sharply across North America. In Quebec, the number of recipients went from 813,200 in March 1996 to 492,941 in October 2006, or 6.4% of the population, the lowest level since the late 1970s. Despite this, the province has the continent’s highest proportion of people on social assistance apart from Newfoundland and the District of Columbia. This reflects both a traditionally higher level and a lower reduction than elsewhere.

CROP public poll on Quebecers’ social generosity.

The 2006 Montreal Millennium Promise Conference.

The cost of our politicians’ promises.

Publication of an Economic Note on the perverse effects of a subsidized childcare system.

Publication of an Economic Note on the perverse effects of a subsidized childcare system.

With the stated aim of preventing “two-tier” childcare from emerging, the Quebec government recently blocked subsidized private daycare centres from engaging in extra-billing for supplementary activities. This coercive measure is a logical outcome of the centralization and standardization process that began a decade ago. Although the Quebec childcare model is seen by many as being among the most advanced in Canada or even the world in terms of family policy, the perverse effects of government management are being felt increasingly. Does this policy really suit the parents it was meant to help?

Publication of an Economic note on the living standards of people in Quebec.