Author

Olivier Rancourt

Olivier Rancourt holds a master’s degree in economics from the Université de Montréal. His master’s thesis project examined political bias in the US Department of Justice’s filing of antitrust cases. During his university career, he held several positions in the Economics Students’ Association at the Université de Montréal (AÉÉSÉUM).

Olivier loves freedom, especially the freedom to work on a variety of topics related to the local, regional, national, and international news of the day. In his free time, he enjoys devouring history books. He is also interested in national and international politics, and in technology. He worked for the MEI from January 2021 to November 2022.

November 21, 2022

MEI – What does Ottawa get by capping our oil and gas sector’s greenhouse gas emissions – Olivier Rancourt

November 21, 2022 | 6 min. 55 sec. | Shaye Ganam (Global Radio) Interview with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the MEI, on […]

November 17, 2022

2-minute read

Inflation: Blame the Bank of Canada, and Supply Managed Industries

The official figures are out, but you probably already felt it in your wallet. The growth of the Consumer Price Index remained steady at 6.9% in October.

November 17, 2022

4-minute read

What does Ottawa get for killing the golden goose of Alberta’s energy production?

By capping our oil and gas sector’s emissions, Ottawa risks killing the golden goose while getting nothing in return.

November 14, 2022

2-minute read

Health Transfers: Tax Points Instead of a Bigger Cheque

Instead of asking for bigger health care cheques, the provinces should band together to request tax points from the federal government.

November 14, 2022

4-minute read

Capping energy industry emissions is all pain, no gain

Ottawa’s oil and gas emissions cap proposal amounts to nothing more than political greenwashing, where we get to feel like we did something, but we really just paid through the nose for something with little to no positive effect.

November 10, 2022

11-minute read

The Economic Impact of Applying a Carbon Emissions Cap to the Oil and Gas Sector

This study from the MEI describes how the federal government’s proposal to cap the energy sector’s greenhouse gas emissions would cause substantial economic losses, without achieving any net reduction in global emissions.

November 8, 2022

4-minute read

Large cost for little upside: Why the government’s digital services tax is not worth the trouble

The Trudeau government has plans to impose a tax on digital services. The case for the targeted tax is weak. The consequences could be significant.

October 28, 2022

4-minute read

Consumers will foot the bill for digital services tax

Behind the high-minded slogans about “fair shares” and “making multinationals pay” hide two other facts: that it is once again, as always, taxpayers who will foot the bill, and that the hoped-for benefits will likely not materialize.

October 22, 2022

MEI – Inflation at numbers not seen for 30 years in new poll – Olivier Rancourt

October 22, 2022 | 6 min. 30 sec. | The Roy Green Show (Global Radio) Interview with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the […]

October 20, 2022

IEDM – Devrait-on taxer les géants du web (GAFAM)? – Olivier Rancourt

October 20, 2022 | 8 min. 17 sec. | Midi Pile (KYK Radio) Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the […]

October 20, 2022

IEDM – Faut-il taxer les géants du web (GAFAM)? – Olivier Rancourt

October 20, 2022 | 4 min. | Trudeau-Landry (FM 93) Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the MEI, about the […]

October 20, 2022

11-minute read

GAFA Tax: A Bad Solution to a Nonexistent Problem

The federal government’s bill to impose a surtax on the revenues of digital companies would hurt Canadian consumers according this MEI publication. “No matter how the government dresses up its digital tax bill, it is Canadian consumers who will once again pay for it,” said Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the MEI and author of the publication.

October 11, 2022

2-minute read

The Government Has to Stop Stifling the Private Sector

The Quebec economy has a problem. Despite the jubilation of certain politicians over the province’s low unemployment numbers, almost all the job creation in Quebec comes from the different levels of government.

September 28, 2022

4-minute read

Police need to be police, not paper-pushers

It’s time to redraw the balance between core and non-core policing activities—and, in doing so, make our communities safer while preserving public resources.

September 26, 2022

2-minute read

Won’t Someone Please Think of the Unintended Consequences of Mining Regulation?

While more and more people are calling for the electrification of transportation and an energy transition, the mining projects upon which this transition depends are suffering from political instability that keeps putting them in peril.

September 26, 2022

12-minute read

Enhancing Public Safety While Saving Public Dollars with Auxiliary Private Security Agents

The demands on police in non-criminal areas have grown as governments have saddled officers with increasing responsibilities divorced from their core mission. With pressure coming from all sides, including recent calls to “defund the police,” this new MEI paper proposes to outsource non-core tasks to auxiliary private security agents in order to make the best use of scarce police time and public resources.

September 6, 2022

IEDM – Il faut intégrer plus d’agents de sécurité plutôt que des policiers – Olivier Rancourt

September 6, 2022 | 11 min. 20 sec. | Richard Martineau (QUB Radio) Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the […]

September 5, 2022

4-minute read

Pour la sécurité de tous, le SPVM doit intégrer des agents de sécurité

Il existe une solution pour résorber la pénurie de policiers au SPVM tout en diminuant la criminalité et qui permettrait en plus aux contribuables montréalais de faire des économies importantes: engager des agents de sécurité.

August 30, 2022

2-minute read

To Fight Crime, Montreal Needs Policing Reform

The City of Montreal has a problem. While it is experiencing an increase in violent events, it is struggling to retain staff.

August 28, 2022

3-minute read

Canada must export natural gas for economic and environmental reasons

Despite substantial economic benefits, the governments of Quebec and Canada refuse to green-light the development of natural gas or the construction of the energy infrastructure needed to export the gas already produced.

August 28, 2022

4-minute read

Le Canada doit exporter son gaz vers l’Europe

Malgré d’importants gains économiques, les gouvernements du Québec et du Canada refusent de donner le feu vert au développement du gaz naturel ou à la construction des infrastructures énergétiques requises pour exporter le gaz déjà produit.

August 19, 2022

5-minute read

Régime des rentes du Québec – Pour le bien-être des Québécois, il faut pouvoir se désaffilier

Des voix commencent à se lever contre le recours aux critères ESG (environnement, société et gouvernance) par les fonds de retraite auxquels les contribuables doivent absolument cotiser.

July 4, 2022

IEDM – Les barrières protectionnistes sur le bois d’oeuvre – Olivier Rancourt

July 4, 2022 | 6 min. 25 sec. | Les matins d’ici (Ici Radio-Canada) Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at […]

July 4, 2022

3-minute read

Softwood lumber dispute is bad for consumers and producers

The Canadian softwood lumber dispute with the United States, which has been dragging on now for some forty years, is long overdue for a resolution.

June 30, 2022

4-minute read

Bois d’œuvre canadien: un conflit qui nuit aux consommateurs et aux producteurs

Les dirigeants politiques américains doivent prendre acte de la situation et éliminer les tarifs douaniers sur la ressource, qui pèsent lourdement sur la population.

June 30, 2022

9-minute read

Canadian Softwood Lumber: A Costly Dispute for Consumers and Companies

The Canada-US softwood lumber dispute that has lasted some forty years is good for neither country, MEI researchers conclude in this publication. The drop in Canadian production has direct consequences on this country’s forestry industry, and is not offset by the increased production south of the border, which leads to a net loss in the volume of wood available in the American market. This artificially induced greater scarcity of wood leads to higher costs for consumers.

June 24, 2022

4-minute read

Federal government needs to act responsibly on inflation

Faced with this serious situation that weighs heavily on all Canadians, measures must be adopted to pull inflation back down.

June 16, 2022

IEDM – Inflation et hausse des taux d’intérêt – Olivier Rancourt

June 16, 2022 | 10 min. | Panorama (Ici Radio-Canada) Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the MEI, about the […]

June 16, 2022

IEDM – Une récession à l’horizon – Olivier Rancourt

June 16, 2022 | 24 min. | Sur le vif (Ici Radio-Canada) Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the MEI, […]

June 16, 2022

IEDM – Une récession à l’horizon? – Olivier Rancourt

June 16, 2022 | 25 min. | Dans la mosaïque (Ici Radio-Canada) Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the MEI, […]

June 16, 2022

IEDM – Les impacts d’une nouvelle hausse du taux directeur – Olivier Rancourt

June 16, 2022 | 10 min. | Même fréquence (Ici Radio-Canada) Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the MEI, about […]

June 15, 2022

4-minute read

GNL Québec: un soutien énergétique primordial à l’Ukraine et à nos alliés européens

Avec le conflit qui perdure et la volonté de l’Europe de trouver d’autres sources de gaz naturel, le Québec ne devrait pas manquer cette occasion de venir en aide à ses alliés et d’ainsi se démarquer en tant que leader de la transition énergétique.

May 4, 2022

1-minute read

Canada must have a deadline for returning to budgetary balance

Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said this week that she didn’t want to set a deadline for the return to a balanced budget.

April 20, 2022

3-minute read

With high inflation, capital gains are overtaxed even more

Considerations of both tax fairness and tax competitiveness therefore suggest Canadian governments need to adjust for inflation in calculating capital gains taxes.

April 20, 2022

IEDM – Taux d’inflation record et flambée du prix des maisons – Olivier Rancourt

April 20, 2022 | 10 min. 15 sec. | La Croisée (Ici Radio-Canada) Interview (in French) with Gabriel Giguère, Public Policy Analyst […]

April 14, 2022

4-minute read

Avec l’inflation galopante, les gains en capital seront encore plus surtaxés

Dans le contexte inflationniste actuel, une décision plus judicieuse pour le gouvernement du Canada serait d’intégrer l’inflation dans le calcul de l’impôt sur les gains en capital.

April 14, 2022

4-minute read

Into strong winds, the central bank stays the course

The rising cost of living has pushed the central bank to act, and it has acted wisely, raising the policy interest rate. Now the federal government has to act.

April 14, 2022

13-minute read

The Capital Gains Tax and Inflation: How to Favour Investment and Prosperity

The inflation rate in Canada has been rising constantly for several months now. Expansionary monetary policies, as well as the economic sanctions accompanying the Russia-Ukraine war, suggest that significant inflation may be with us for the medium to long term. High inflation erodes consumers’ purchasing power, and also has a negative impact on Canadian taxpayers—including through the capital gains tax, an issue the MEI’s researchers examined in this publication.

April 7, 2022

IEDM – C’est jour de budget à Ottawa – Olivier Rancourt

April 7, 2022 | 5 min. 22 sec. | Droit Devant (106,9 FM) Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the […]

April 4, 2022

4-minute read

Budget fédéral: des mesures essentielles pour un Canada fort et prospère

Avec le dépôt du budget fédéral cette semaine, plusieurs points d’importance doivent être abordés pour assurer la croissance de l’économie canadienne en cette période d’instabilité internationale.

February 3, 2022

2-minute read

GAFA: Australia shows what not to do

With Parliament back in session, the federal government plans to introduce a bill forcing Web giants to pay news sites for content published on their platforms.

January 27, 2022

3-minute read

To fight inflation, bank rate hike must happen in March

Our policy-makers have to take the situation Canadians find themselves in seriously. It’s time to tackle the inflation that is undermining our living standards.

January 26, 2022

11-minute read

Examining Canadian Competition in the Digital Era

The MEI is honoured to have been invited to participate in a consultation on the Canadian Competition Act in a continuing effort to ensure Canada has an effective and impactful competition law framework. We have read the discussion paper that examines whether digital markets have distinctive features that would invite significant changes to our competition law, prepared by Professor Edward M. Iacobucci, and wish to comment.

January 25, 2022

1-minute read

The Bank of Canada must tackle inflation

The numbers are in: Canada’s annual inflation for 2021 was 4.8%, the highest rate since 1991. Even excluding gasoline from the calculation, inflation is 4%, which is double the Bank of Canada’s current target of 2%.

January 25, 2022

4-minute read

Gaz naturel et lutte aux changements climatiques: les deux font la paire

C’est en exportant notre gaz naturel pour remplacer des méthodes plus émettrices en équivalent CO2 que le Québec va réellement contribuer à la réduction des gaz à effet de serre, partout sur la planète.

January 18, 2022

1-minute read

It’s time to end economic interventionism

We learned recently that the Quebec government plans to reach into taxpayers’ pockets, to the tune of over $200 million, in order to finance the former C Series. Again.

November 30, 2021

4-minute read

L’industrie forestière au service de l’environnement et de nos régions

Le secteur forestier saisit les opportunités qui se présentent et sait se renouveler pour s’adapter aux nouvelles réalités et répondre aux enjeux actuels au cœur de nos préoccupations, dont les changements climatiques.

November 30, 2021

9-minute read

Forestry: A Sector That Keeps Innovating

Contrary to perceptions disseminated by certain of its opponents, the forestry industry continues to innovate, and increasingly contributes to the fight against climate change. In this publication, co-authors Olivier Rancourt and Miguel Ouellette provide a survey of some of the innovations implemented by this industry.

November 17, 2021

6-minute read

Canadian Institute for Climate Choices: Sink or Swim Report Sinks, Riddled with Holes

Recently, the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices released its Sink or Swim report detailing Canada’s economic prospects in the global low-carbon transition. A quick survey of the report uncovers many erroneous assumptions, seriously undermining its overall conclusions.

November 1, 2021

IEDM – Québec doit se mettre à la diète – Olivier Rancourt

Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the MEI, about the impact of the high number of Quebec civil servants on the economy. Broadcast on November 1, 2021 as part of Mario Dumont’s show, on LCN.

November 1, 2021

4-minute read

Québec doit se mettre à la diète

Les différents paliers de gouvernement interviennent trop dans l’économie, ce qui crée des effets néfastes pour tous.

October 18, 2021

2-minute read

Municipal Election – We Need to Rethink Public Safety

Now that municipal elections are here, one essential debate is conspicuous by its absence: the administration of public safety.

October 8, 2021

2-minute read

Municipal Election – Rethinking Our Affordable Housing Approach

A recurring Canadian news story in recent years has been the falling affordability of housing. What are the solutions?

October 4, 2021

IEDM – Les impacts de la pénurie de main-d’œuvre sur l’économie – Olivier Rancourt

Roundtable Discussion (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the MEI. Broadcast on October 4, 2021 on MAtv’s Mise À Jour Montréal.

September 13, 2021

2-minute read

Election 2021 – Canada Needs a Competitive Tax Regime

One of the factors undermining Canada’s economic recovery is its tax structure. The system we have now is one of the worst among industrialized countries.

September 8, 2021

IEDM – Réorganiser la police, est-ce possible? – Olivier Rancourt

September 8, 2021 | 13 min. 49 sec. | Midi Pile (KYK Radio) Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the […]

September 8, 2021

IEDM – Revoir la gestion de nos corps policiers : un investissement? – Olivier Rancourt

September 8, 2021 | 7 min. | Richard Martineau (QUB Radio) Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the MEI, about […]

September 8, 2021

4-minute read

Économiser des centaines de millions en repensant la police

Il existe une façon toute simple d’économiser des centaines de millions de dollars: repenser la répartition des tâches policières.

September 8, 2021

IEDM – Laissons les policiers faire leur travail – Olivier Rancourt

September 8, 2021 | 7 min. 22 sec. | Midi Plus (106.9 FM) Interview (in French) with Olivier Rancourt, Economist at the […]

September 8, 2021

6-minute read

Let the Police Police, and Let Entrepreneurs Handle the Rest

For a few years now, crime rates have been rising in Canada. At the same time, our police forces are facing mounting financial pressures. This research paper proposes a new way of seeing the division of labour for police that could generate substantial savings all while improving the quality of services delivered to the public.

September 6, 2021

4-minute read

Reducing our emissions without penalizing rural regions

After many years of public policies aimed at reducing GHGs, layered one on top of the other, it’s time to ask ourselves if our rural regions are not being penalized disproportionately by all of these measures.

September 2, 2021

4-minute read

Instaurer des politiques environnementales sans pénaliser nos régions

Après de nombreuses années où se sont multipliées les politiques publiques visant à réduire les émissions de GES, il est temps de faire le point sur l’application et les résultats de ces mesures.

September 2, 2021

16-minute read

Environmental Policies Should Be Adapted for Rural Canadians

For many years, governments have been piling measure upon measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, all in an effort to fight climate change. This Economic Note published by the MEI analyzes the extent to which these public policies have a disproportionate impact on the country’s rural regions.

August 25, 2021

2-minute read

Election 2021 – It’s Time to Take Concrete Steps to Fight Inflation

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prices of many goods have jumped sharply. Prices have risen so much that Canada’s annual inflation rate is now 3.7%, the highest it’s been in ten years.

August 19, 2021

2-minute read

Election 2021 – Carbon Tax: Let’s Stop Unfairly Penalizing Rural Regions

In 2018, the federal government introduced a carbon tax applicable to those provinces that had not yet adopted a carbon pricing system.

August 14, 2021

4-minute read

Élections fédérales: l’économie doit redevenir prioritaire

S’il est clair que le Canada a le potentiel de demeurer l’un des pays les plus prospères et les plus libres au monde, les candidats aux élections ne devraient pas s’assoir sur leurs lauriers.

July 13, 2021

2-minute read

Digital Services Tax: Let’s Stop Punishing Consumers

The implementation of a 3% tax on all digital platforms would only hurt Canadian consumers, who would have to pay higher fees to access platforms like Netflix and Spotify.

June 23, 2021

4-minute read

Cessons de stimuler la flambée des prix de l’immobilier

Depuis plus d’un an, le prix des propriétés a explosé au Québec. Cette flambée des prix s’explique par plusieurs facteurs, dont certaines mesures mises en place dans les dernières années par les différents paliers de gouvernement.

June 10, 2021

5-minute read

Fiscalité des GAFAM : quand l’aveuglement occulte la vérité

Les GAFAM sont devenus des boucs émissaires universels. On peut désormais les accuser de tous les maux, et ce, en étant quasiment certain qu’aucune vérification ne sera effectuée a posteriori.

June 2, 2021

2-minute read

Police Reform: A Missed Opportunity

By refusing to open up a debate about the structure of the police in the province, the Quebec government is missing an opportunity to innovate and improve the effectiveness of our police, all while reducing costs.

May 13, 2021

5-minute read

The common thread on tech regulation? The consumer ends up paying

It’s time to stop punishing consumers for the choices they make simply because they fail to conform to the choices a bureaucrat would make for them.

March 30, 2021

4-minute read

Le commerce entre les provinces, «qu’ossa donne»?

Selon des études économiques poussées, il serait possible d’augmenter le PIB par habitant du Canada de 3,8% simplement en éliminant les barrières au commerce interprovincial.

March 30, 2021

4-minute read

Free interprovincial trade once and for all

A true free trade agreement is a simple, low-cost way to stimulate the economy, raise our productivity, and in the end, improve our general standard of living.

March 30, 2021

10-minute read

Internal Trade Provincial Leadership Index – 2021 Edition

With the vaccine rollout in full swing, the public’s attention is increasingly focused on economic recovery. The authors of this Research Paper propose a very simple solution: a true free trade agreement among the Canadian provinces. This publication includes among other things a ranking of the provinces and territories according to their openness to internal trade. Alberta takes first place, and Quebec comes in last.

March 23, 2021

5-minute read

Du gaz naturel québécois pour combattre les changements climatiques

Tant pour l’environnement que pour notre portefeuille, il serait tout à fait avantageux pour les Québécois et les Québécoises d’appuyer le développement local, durable et éthique du gaz naturel.

March 19, 2021

4-minute read

GNL Québec : Un projet qui doit continuer

Sachant que plus d’un milliard de personnes dans le monde n’ont pas accès à l’électricité, des projets d’exportations d’énergie comme GNL Québec pourraient faciliter le développement d’infrastructures d’électricité dans ces pays.

March 18, 2021

1-minute read

Public Tenders: How About Some Transparency?

Recently, we learned that over 3,000 public contracts totalling almost $2 billion were awarded by the Quebec government without calls for tenders.

March 9, 2021

2-minute read

GAFA Tax: The Predictable Consequences of an Ineffective Law

Recently, Google announced a 2% increase in its advertising rates in France, following the introduction of a “GAFA tax” targeting several multinational digital corporations.