SAAQclic: Gallant refuses to grant participant status to Karl Malenfant
Posted July 3, 2025 4:13 pm.
Judge Denis Gallant, who chairs the commission into the SAAQclic fiasco, refused on Thursday to grant participant status to Karl Malenfant.
This status would have allowed the former vice-president of information technology at the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) to defend himself, notably by cross-examining witnesses.
In his decision handed down on Thursday, Gallant refuted Malenfant’s arguments and reiterated that he will testify before the commission at the end of the summer.
“Participant status is not necessary. His testimony is the appropriate remedy in the circumstances,” he ruled.
The judge also noted that lawyers for the SAAQ, Malenfant’s former employer, are already cross-examining “the vast majority of the witnesses.”
“However, no allegation has been made by the applicant regarding the inadequacy of these representations, whether in their capacity or due to a conflict of interests,” he noted.
Furthermore, if Malenfant’s request were granted, “it would mean that dozens of people (…) could apply for participant status,” he said.
“To ensure the proper execution of our mandate within the timeframe given to us by the government, we cannot afford to open such a door.”
Gallant also emphasized that Malenfant’s request comes very late, as the commission began its public work in April.
Malenfant, who was central to the SAAQclic project and whose name constantly comes up before the commission, deplores the fact that he faces a “significant reputational risk.”
In his request to Judge Gallant, he stated that he wanted to “rectify the accuracy of certain facts.”
Several witnesses criticized Malenfant for minimizing the problems at SAAQclic and withholding information from the government.
It’s worth remembering that the SAAQ’s failed digital transformation is expected to cost taxpayers at least $1.1 billion by 2027, or $500 million more than expected, according to calculations by the Auditor General of Quebec.
The Gallant Commission’s work will resume on Aug. 18.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
