Headlines about fisheries fiascos in Canada are nothing new: economic and conservation woes plague the historically most important fisheries, salmon on the west coast and cod on the east coast. What have not made the headlines however, are management changes that have saved many of Canada's smaller fisheries such as halibut, sablefish, and sea cucumber.

Quebec Prosperity: Taking the Next Step investigates Quebec's economic performance, both within Canada and relative to US states, and how this is affected by Quebec's economic policies. A key question addressed is why Quebec's economic performance has consistently been lower than its potential: Quebec's people are poorer and more frequently unemployed than they need be.

The CPP is a mandatory, employment-related pension system governed jointly by the federal and provincial governments and administered by the federal government. It pays retirement and other benefits calculated in relation to earnings up to a maximum approximating the average wage and charges contributions on earnings between a yearly minimum of $3,500 and the same maximum. Originally set up to run on a pay-as-you-go basis with no significant prefunding of benefits, the CPP underwent reforms in 1998 that trimmed benefits and ramped up contribution rates.