The MEI issues two economic education prizes

Montreal, December 12, 2008 – The Montreal Economic Institute has issued two economic education prizes, worth $3,000 each, to Martin Jolicoeur, a journalist with the weekly newspaper Les Affaires, and to Sean Silcoff, a freelance journalist who, until recently, was a columnist and Montreal correspondent with the National Post.

A report by Martin Jolicoeur published on March 22, 2008, provides a detailed presentation of the issues involved in open skies agreements for Canada. Greater air transport liberalization makes some politicians fear the bankruptcy of an airline, leading elected officials to pay more attention to airlines’ concerns than to those of consumers, who are demanding greater choice and better prices.

An article by Sean Silcoff published on September 8, 2007, sets out various aspects of forest exploitation and their impact on many areas of public policy, including the advantages of greater privatization of forests.

The Montreal Economic Institute’s economic education prizes reward the work of journalists (reporters or columnists) who have contributed most to a better understanding by the general public of economic analysis on a public policy issue. One prize is awarded for the best article in French and another for the best article in English. The jury received more than 20 articles from 15 candidates.

The awarding of these prizes is made possible thanks to the support of the Lotte & John Hecht Foundation.

The Montreal Economic Institute is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization that takes part in public policy debate in Quebec and across Canada, offering wealth creation solutions on matters of taxation, regulation, and reform of health and education systems.

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André Valiquette, Director of communications, Montreal Economic Institute, Tel.: (514) 273-0969 ext. 2225 / Cell: (514) 574-0969 / E-mail: avaliquette (@iedm.org)