Quebec’s Saaqclic Overrun Inquiry to Hear From Key figures Including Former Treasury board Presidents
Quebec City,Quebec – The gallant Commission investigating cost overruns in the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec’s (SAAQ) digital transformation project,known as Saaqclic,will hear testimony this week from prominent figures including current Health Minister Christian Dubé and former treasury Board president Sonia Lebel.The inquiry is intensifying scrutiny of the project’s financial trajectory and the oversight provided during its initial phases.
The Commission, led by Denis gallant, is focusing on the role of the Treasury Board in the Saaqclic project, which has faced notable budget increases. Dubé served as president of the treasury Board from 2018 to 2020, prior to his appointment as Minister of Health. Lebel’s involvement is drawing particular attention due to her prior work with Gallant as a prosecutor during the Charbonneau Commission, prompting calls for Gallant to recuse himself from the inquiry, requests he has so far declined. Several members of the National Assembly, including those from Québec Solidaire, voiced concerns about a potential conflict of interest.
The Saaqclic project, initiated under the Liberal government of Philippe Couillard, aimed to modernize the SAAQ’s digital infrastructure. The project’s escalating costs have become a focal point of public and political debate. Former Minister responsible for Digital transformation, Éric Caire, previously asserted he was powerless to prevent the overruns. Gilles Bélanger has as succeeded Caire as the deputy for orford.
This week’s hearings will also include testimony from Pierre Moreau, who held the Treasury Board portfolio during the Couillard government and now serves as a Canadian Senator. Moreau’s appearance is intended to provide context from the project’s early stages and the initial decisions surrounding its implementation.
The Gallant Commission’s inquiry seeks to determine the factors contributing to the cost overruns and identify any potential shortcomings in the oversight and management of the Saaqclic project. The SAAQ, a provincial crown corporation, is responsible for administering vehicle registration, driver licensing, and insurance in Quebec. The digital overhaul was intended to streamline these services,but has instead become a symbol of government project mismanagement.
