There has been no shortage of discouraging news in 2024: war in the Middle East, housing and homelessness crises, and for many people, the election of Donald Trump, among others. But the year also brought its share of good news. Here are eight of them.
Published at 6:00 a.m.
Inflation is under control
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
For the first 10 months of 2024, inflation was 2.5% in Quebec, within the target range of 1% to 3%.
After three years of very high inflation (3.8% in 2021, 6.7% in 2022, 4.5% in 2023 in Quebec), the Bank of Canada managed to bring inflation back to a more normal level. For the first 10 months of 2024, inflation was 2.5% in Quebec, within the target range of 1% to 3%. This more normal inflation will give a respite to Quebecers' wallets. Usually, when a central bank has to tame high inflation as has been the case in recent years, the economy falls into recession. There was no recession in Canada. Quebec's economy was in a technical recession during the last nine months of 2023, but it was a mild recession, and the economy rebounded well in 2024.
Canada has reduced its GHGs
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
According to estimates from the Climate Institute of Canada published last September, Canada has reduced its CO emissions2 by 1% between 2022 and 2023.
We are (really) not doing enough against climate change. But at least our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are decreasing. According to estimates from the Climate Institute of Canada published last September, Canada has reduced its CO emissions2 of 1% between 2022 and 2023. This is largely insufficient, of course. But we are progressing in the right direction. Canada's objective: to reduce its GHG emissions by 40% to 45% in 2030 compared to 2005. We are currently at -7.8% compared to 2005.
Fewer children are dying around the world
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The number of children under 5 who lose their lives increased from 6.1 million in 2015 to 4.9 million in 2022, according to a UNICEF report.
Thanks to advances in medicine and vaccines, the mortality rate among children is decreasing around the world. The number of children under 5 who lose their lives increased from 6.1 million in 2015 to 4.9 million in 2022, according to a UNICEF report published in 2024. It has halved (51% ) since 2000.
Quebecers are very happy
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Quebecers are sixth among the happiest people in the world, according to an international ranking.
Our life is not perfect. But Quebecers are one of the happiest people in the world. More precisely, they are sixth among the happiest people in the world, according to an international ranking by a group of researchers, who calculate a country's happiness index based on responses to the Gallup World Poll on quality of life. Quebec has a happiness index of 7.33 out of 10. The happiest are the Finns (7.74), the Danes (7.58) and the Icelanders (7.52). The Canadians (6.90) arrive at 15e rank, ahead of the Americans (6.72) in 23e rank out of 143 countries. In general, the happiest countries are not at war, are rich and have a large social safety net (which they finance by paying more taxes).
The return of Celine Dion
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Celine Dion made her return to the stage during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympic Games.
What pride to see Céline Dion, our Céline, make her comeback in front of the whole world during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympic Games. What emotions to hear him interpretHymn to loveby Edith Piaf, perched on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. The Quebec artist suffers from stiff person syndrome, a degenerative disease which has prevented her from singing for years.
Victory and the Roses
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, ARCHIVES SPECIAL COLLABORATION
The Victoire de Montréal made its debut in the Professional Women's Hockey League.
Which Quebec professional sports team had the best year in 2024? The Victory of Montreal. Hockey players Marie-Philip Poulin, Ann-Renée Desbiens and their teammates reached the final of the Professional Women's Hockey League series. But their greatest victory is the popular enthusiasm they have generated for professional women's sport. In its first season, the team even sold out the Bell Center! Other good news for women's sport: in soccer, the Montreal Roses will make their debut next spring in the new Northern Super League.
An agreement with public sector union members
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The government of Quebec has reached an agreement with public sector union members in 2024.
It took a long time, but the Quebec government finally reached an agreement with public sector union members in 2024. The 570,000 state employees affected by these negotiations obtained salary increases of at least 17.4% over five years. Basically, they obtained a catch-up equivalent to inflation between 2022 and 2027. It is a fair and equitable agreement both for public sector employees, who deserve it doubly after a long strike, and for taxpayers.
Quebec students among the best in the world
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, ARCHIVES LA PRESSE
According to an OECD study, Quebec students are among the best in the world in mathematics, science and reading.
Well, this news dates from December 2023, but we are going to include it anyway: Quebec students are among the best in the world in mathematics, science and reading. Among a hundred states of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the 10 Canadian provinces, Quebec comes 7e in mathematics (Canada is 11e), 13e in lecture (Canada: 11e rank) and 12e in sciences (Canada: 11e rank). Our education system is not perfect, but Quebec high school students obtain exceptional results on these international PISA tests. Only Singapore, Macao (China), Taipei (Taiwan), Hong Kong (China), Japan and South Korea are ahead of Quebec in all categories.
