SAAQclic scandal: Quebec Premier François Legault expected before Gallant Commission next Tuesday

Quebec Premier François Legault has been summoned to present his version of events regarding the SAAQclic fiasco before the Gallant Commission, the premier’s office and the commission confirmed to CityNews.

His testimony is expected next Tuesday, the commission indicated in an email.

“We confirm that the premier has been called to testify before the Gallant Commission,” Legault’s office told CityNews, also via email. “This commission of inquiry was established by our government to shed full light on the situation and draw all necessary lessons. The premier will cooperate fully in its work. It is important to him that Quebecers have all the answers.”

The Gallant Commission is attempting to shed light on the failed digital transformation of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).

The commission indicated that the premier’s chief of staff, Martin Koskinen, and Yves Ouellet, a former right-hand man of Legault’s at the Ministère du Conseil exécutif, have also been called to testify next week.

Legault’s office was reportedly informed of problems related to the SAAQ’s IT project, including a risk of cost overruns, as early as 2020, according to what was revealed last week at the Gallant Commission.

Ouellet was also reportedly informed in September 2022 of a $222 million shortfall in delivering the SAAQclic platform.

Former deputy minister not informed

A former senior official at the Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs says he was never informed in 2022 of the upcoming additional costs of $222 million for the modernization of the SAAQ’s IT systems.

Pierre E. Rodrigue completed his testimony before the Gallant Commission on Tuesday morning. He was deputy minister when Éric Caire headed the department.

During a meeting in October 2022 between Caire, Rodrigue, and the SAAQ on the progress of the SAAQclic platform, the project’s costs were discussed in particular. The Crown corporation stated that “the budgets confirmed in September 2020 are being respected.” These amounted to $682 million, according to a dashboard presented by the SAAQ.

“It was discussed because the ministers and deputy ministers know that money is what’s killing us,” Rodrigue said. “… we received confirmation that financially we continue to be in the crosshairs.”

“There was no mention” of a $222 million cost overrun, either in October or at a previous meeting in June 2022, the official specified.

The commission’s attorney, Alexandre Thériault-Marois, pointed out to him that a $45.7 million “amendment,” an additional amount to the contract of the consortium formed by LGS and SAP, was circulating during the same period. This addition was signed on Oct. 31, 2022.

Were he and Caire informed of the signing of this amendment at the October meeting, Thériault-Marois asked.

“Mr. Commissioner, under oath, I say no,” Rodrigue firmly replied. “And I can’t have forgotten it because, if it had been said then, to Mr. Caire—I know Mr. Caire—he would have gotten angry, and I would remember it. So, it was never, ever discussed at that time.”

The government corporation’s IT project, called CASA, which includes the SAAQclic platform, is expected to cost at least $1.1 billion, $500 million more than expected, according to the Auditor General of Quebec (VGQ).

Former minister Caire’s testimony before the Gallant Commission is expected this week. Caire left his position last February following the publication of the VGQ report.

Anonymous text messages

During his testimony, Rodrigue said he received an anonymous text message that appeared threatening after the commission of inquiry into SAAQclic was announced last March.

“He’s threatening to blame SAAQclic on me,” Rodrigue recounted.

In 2022, he also received text messages from an anonymous person, but they did not refer to the SAAQclic project. The messages were non-threatening and “still kind,” Rodrigue said.

The content of the text messages was not made public as of Tuesday morning.

“I have the text messages in front of me. I’m going to ask the authorities to investigate this. I consider this very serious,” said Commissioner Denis Gallant.

Rodrigue is still trying to understand who is trying to attack him, even though he is no longer responsible for IT contracts.

“I’m not dangerous. Is anyone afraid I’ll bring something up during the committee meeting?” he asked.

Rodrigue said the first messages from 2022 appeared when he was trying “to correct the functioning of certain contracts.”