SAAQclic: Former CEO’s account of cost overruns contradicted
Posted September 3, 2025 1:00 pm.
Quebec Premier François Legault’s former right-hand man at the Ministry of the Executive Council, Yves Ouellet, denied having been informed in Sept. 2022 of a shortfall of more than $200 million for the SAAQclic platform.
Ouellet testified Wednesday morning at the Gallant Commission, the day after the Premier and his chief of staff, Martin Koskinen, were heard. He contradicted the version of the former CEO of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), Denis Marsolais, according to which the latter informed him of an additional $222 million during a meeting on Sept. 7, 2022.
Ouellet recounted that during this meeting, the progress of the SAAQclic platform, which was scheduled to launch a few months later, was discussed. The budget and timeline were discussed.
“I always talk about the budget. What is clear is that he never mentioned $200 million. The red lights would have gone on. He never mentioned cost overruns. The entire dashboard would have been lit up. That’s obvious,” said Ouellet.
As Secretary General, Ouellet was the highest-ranking civil servant in the government and worked directly under Legault. He held this position from 2018 to 2023 before becoming President and CEO of the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF).
Marsolais’ testimony last June before the Gallant Commission is being questioned for a second time. A political advisor to Minister François Bonnardel claimed he had no recollection of the former SAAQ head warning him of a $222 million cost overrun.
Alain Généreux testified that he would have asked questions if he had been made aware of such an overrun.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
