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Publications

The economic crisis and its impact on employment

An economic recession produces its share of negative consequences: drops in the value of retirement funds, declines in the worth of real estate assets, lower corporate profits, a return to structural government deficits, and so forth. However, the most visible impact of a recession is unquestionably the job losses that are an inevitable result. This research paper covers different aspects of the financial crisis and economic recession which began in 2007.

Viewpoint on the challenges facing Montreal as a metropolis

Montreal faces enormous difficulties in playing its role as a metropolis because of its disappointing economic performance, its inadequate high school and university graduation rates, the rampant inefficiency of its municipal services, and a critical lack of action in implementing major projects. These shortcomings lead us to observe that Montreal comes close to deserving the title of marginal metropolis.

The Ontario-Quebec Trade and Cooperation Agreement

The Quebec and Ontario governments have recently signed a trade and cooperation agreement that will take effect on October 1, 2009. The agreement is intended to facilitate trade between the two provinces, promote labour mobility, strengthen economic cooperation and work toward greater regulatory harmonization. The goal is to create wealth and jobs by improving the competitiveness of the two economies and by combining the strengths of each of them in sectors seen as strategic.

Union certification: Developing a level playing field for labour relations in Quebec

In votes of various types, such as elections and referendums, the secret ballot is seen as a way of guaranteeing that voters are protected from pressure or intimidation and of ensuring that the vote represents their true opinion. However, this is not the approach used in labour relations in Quebec and elsewhere: the outcome of a union certification or a strike vote may be determined by a less rigorous process that involves canvassing workers to get signatures or a show of hands in favour of a strike. This procedure may alter workers’ true will and favour labour relations disputes, putting economic growth and investment at risk. The objective of this research paper is to examine reform options for the union certification process in Quebec.

Viewpoint on peak oil

The price of oil has been swinging for a number of years. Alarmist talk about resource depletion and overpopulation is coming back into fashion after an earlier peak in the 1970s. However, the Earth contains all the resources required to produce oil (synthetic oil, if need be) in any quantity demanded. Economic logic indicates that lack of demand, rather than of supply, will cause oil production to decline, with no particularly harmful impact on our standard of living. Let’s take a look at what could well be the non-event of the century.

Northern Waters – A realistic, sustainable and profitable plan to exploit Quebec’s blue gold

Northern waters and energy hold a special place in our national mythology and daily economic reality, particularly since the major hydro-electric work at James Bay in the 1970s. Quebec’s environmental and energy policies were manifestly transformed after our northern rivers were harnessed. The impact was also positive on various other sectors of society, ranging from public finances to industrial development and including social and economic progress in Aboriginal communities. Despite these considerable achievements in exploiting Quebec’s blue gold, one question remains: are we yet making the most of this natural resource, which is increasingly rare in various areas of the world and is likely to rise in value in the coming decades?

Is net neutrality economically efficient?

In November 2008, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) denied a request from the Canadian Association of Internet Providers which wanted Bell Canada to cease its network “traffic-shaping” practices. The CRTC concluded that Bell’s measures did not violate the law and were not discriminatory since the company applied the same policies both to its wholesale and retail customers. However, the CRTC has decided to examine the broader issue of traffic management by Internet service providers – and thus indirectly to tackle the issue known as “net neutrality.” This proceeding will include a public hearing that is scheduled to begin in July.

Forced access to telecommunications networks

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has ordered telephone companies to sell to third-party retailers services matching the speed of their own retail Internet services on their next generation networks (NGNs). No one believes that grocery chains should be forced to share their distribution networks with smaller competitors, or that Amazon.com should be forced to make its on-line distribution system available to small bookstores. However, many believe that the government should force telephone companies to allow third-party suppliers access to their facilities.

Viewpoint on the debt of the Quebec government

The economy is slowing down. Government revenues are falling, with less tax being collected, and spending is on the rise because of higher program costs. Can the Quebec government’s finances hold up without unduly raising the debt? To get an answer, we need to find out where the government’s debt stands. For mere mortals, this is no easy task. Direct debt, total debt, gross debt, net debt, public sector debt… To figure it all out, we looked into the Quebec government’s debt, not to pass judgment on its size but to come up with objective data that can help identify potential dangers.

Medical specialists in Quebec: How to unlock the reserve supply

Waiting lists for medical services in Canada are painfully long. Too many Canadians lack access to a family doctor, and our low ratio of medical specialists to population size is a growing cause of concern. Could this problem be partly solved by making better use of the supply of medical specialists’ work through mixed practice? To get an answer, the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) conducted a survey among medical specialists to find out if some of them might be willing to work extra hours in the private sector, beyond their commitment to the public system.

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