Although the state of Montreal’s social housing stock has gone from bad to worse over the past five years, Mayor Valérie Plante insists on building more, decries this MEI study. “Those who require housing assistance are being forced to live in deplorable conditions,” states Gabriel Giguère, senior public policy analyst at the MEI and author of the study.

The number of patients leaving Quebec emergency rooms without being treated is rising, shows this study by the MEI. “These discouraged patients who leave ERs without having been treated are not leaving because they feel better, but rather because the system can’t give them access to care,” explains Emmanuelle B. Faubert, economist at the MEI and author of the study.

Ottawa’s proposed ban on the use of temporary replacement workers during work stoppages will significantly disrupt vital services, asserts this MEI study. “Banning the use of replacement workers for federally regulated industries will enable small groups of unionized employees to stop key transportation infrastructure from working,” explains Gabriel Giguère, public policy analyst at the MEI and author of the study.

A lighter regulatory and tax burden would have reduced the number and the length of episodes of poverty in Quebec, shows this study published by the MEI. “The economic literature is very clear: the weight of regulation and taxes has a negative impact on economic growth, and ultimately on social mobility,” explains Vincent Geloso, senior economist at the MEI.

Emulating Alberta’s pharmacist-led clinic model could enhance access to primary care and help avoid unnecessary emergency room visits, according to this study from the Montreal Economic Institute.

Raising the capital gains inclusion rate will deter venture capital investment and entrepreneurship in Canada, asserts this MEI study. “If the Trudeau and Legault governments are looking to chase away investment, then they’re on the right track,” says Emmanuelle B. Faubert, economist at the MEI and author of the study.

Adopting activity-based funding for hospitals in Alberta could shorten wait times and improve productivity, according to this MEI study. “Our current hospital funding model incentivizes treating the fewest patients possible, as each new patient represents an additional cost,” explains Krystle Wittevrongel, Senior Public Policy Analyst and Alberta Project Lead at the MEI.

By maintaining the current number of regulated trades, Labour Minister Jean Boulet’s Bill 51 does not go far enough in decompartmentalizing the province’s construction trades, concludes this study published by the MEI.

The median patient visiting a Quebec emergency room last year spent 5 hours and 13 minutes there, according to this study published by the MEI. “This year again, Quebec patients have had to be patient indeed, with emergency room visits taking over five hours,” says Emmanuelle B. Faubert, economist at the MEI and author of the study.

Despite the pressure exerted by the wage increases granted to public employees, the Legault government should stay the course and quickly return to a balanced budget, concludes this study published by the MEI.