SAAQclic fiasco: Legault’s ex-right-hand man knew costs were skyrocketing

Premier François Legault’s former right-hand man at the Ministère du Conseil exécutif, Yves Ouellet, knew about the cost overruns in the SAAQclic file as early as September 7, 2022.

That day, Denis Marsolais, President and CEO of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), met with Ouellet in his office to give him an update on the situation.

Marsolais informed Ouellet that $222 million was needed to deliver Phase 2 of the project, and that two scenarios were being considered.

The first is to publish the entire $222 million rider on the government’s electronic tendering system (SEAO), and the second is to divide it up.

“Of course I talked about the $222 million. I’ve definitely talked about both scenarios,” Marsolais told the Gallant commission investigating the SAAQclic fiasco on Thursday.

Informed of the exploding costs, Ouellet reportedly had no “particular reaction”. “It’s not a reaction that impressed me,” recalls Marsolais.

As Secretary General, Ouellet was the most senior civil servant in the government, working directly under Legault.

According to a document produced by the SAAQ, the first scenario involved a high “political and media” risk. “We were right in the middle of an election,” said Marsolais on Thursday.

Instead, the Crown corporation will propose to its Board of Directors that the $222 million be broken down into several riders.

Thus, in November 2022, a $45.7 million rider was signed with the LGS-SAP alliance, an amount equivalent to 9.97 per cent of the initial contract (0.03 per cent below the SEAO publication threshold).

Ouellet was appointed head of the Autorité des marchés financiers in July 2023.

Marsolais stepped down as CEO of the SAAQ in April 2023.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews