The fiasco involved half a billion dollars in cost overruns and has already claimed one minister in the province’s CAQ government.
Quebec's political landscape is reeling from a major scandal involving the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec's (SAAQ) digital transformation project, SAAQclic. The initiative, which aimed to modernize the auto insurance board's online platform, has become a fiasco, with cost overruns exceeding $500 million, bringing the total expenditure to over $1.1 billion. The project's rollout in February 2023 was plagued by technical failures, leading to significant delays and long lineups at SAAQ branches.
Premier François Legault has announced a public inquiry to investigate the matter, following reports that some government officials may have been aware of the project's issues prior to its launch. This scandal is being compared to the 2015 Charbonneau commission, which exposed widespread corruption in the construction sector, underscoring its potential to become one of the most significant political scandals in Quebec in recent years.
Experts and opposition members have criticized the government's handling of the project, highlighting systemic issues in public contracts and technology implementation. They argue that the fiasco reflects a lack of oversight and expertise, similar to the problems identified during the Charbonneau commission. The scandal has drawn criticism for potentially undermining the government's credibility, especially with upcoming elections, and raises concerns about the broader implications for public trust in government projects.
