Gallant Commission’s investigation director defends work: ‘we did a good job’

After weeks of testimony, hundreds of people met and tens of thousands of documents consulted, the management of the commission of inquiry into the SAAQclic fiasco concludes the public hearings with a sense of duty accomplished. 

“When I recall the quote from our commissioner (Denis Gallant), who promised Quebecers that he would leave no stone unturned, I truly feel that’s what we did. We went as far as we could,” said Robert Pigeon, director of investigations, to The Canadian Press. 

Two days before closing public hearings on Friday, he and three other members of the Gallant commission’s steering committee spoke to the media about their work and that of their team. 

The testimonies heard and documents revealed in recent months have shed light on the behind-the-scenes work of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)’s digital transformation, and provided a better understanding of what may have caused cost overruns and the failed launch of the SAAQclic platform. 

Some still doubt the usefulness of such a commission of inquiry and wonder what the ultimate purpose of this exercise will be. Chief prosecutor Simon Tremblay responds that the results will be felt in the long term with future IT contracts. 

He recalls that the objective of the approach is to “look at the whole forest instead of focusing on one tree, and say what we can recommend to the government that would make things happen differently.” 

“It’s certain that the profit isn’t today. It’s on future contracts. We won’t receive a check, but it will cost less. It will be better managed,” argues Tremblay.

He takes the example of the Commission of Inquiry into the Awarding and Management of Public Contracts in the Construction Industry, the Charbonneau Commission, where he was a prosecutor in the 2010s. 

“Today, engineering contracts in Laval cost 50 per cent less,” says the man who now leads the city’s legal department. “The Charbonneau Commission and the government, by implementing the recommendations, have changed the way things are done, which has significantly reduced the risk” of corruption and collusion.

“It will cost a few million (the Gallant Commission), but the quantitative and qualitative benefits are immeasurable. (…) I tell myself that the Charbonneau Commission was one of the best investments that Quebec could have made to clean up its morals and practices,” he argues. 

In parallel with the Charbonneau Commission, police investigations took place, leading to criminal charges, convictions and the recovery of millions of dollars for public coffers, the chief prosecutor emphasizes.

In the case of the SAAQclic case, the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit and the Public Procurement Authority are each currently conducting investigations. “Each tool has its role” to play, says Tremblay.

Change in management and perception

A change is already taking place in the government apparatus, says the secretary general of the Gallant commission, Véronyck Fontaine, who has worked for more than 25 years in the Quebec public service. 

Colleagues who closely follow the commission’s work say that “it influences their management,” says Fontaine. 

“After what I heard, I’m going to change my ways myself,” she said. 

Public perception has also evolved, according to the commission’s communications director, Joanne Marceau. The public is more aware of IT contracts and how the Quebec government operates. 

“It was one of the first times that there was a real commission of inquiry into the state apparatus. (…) There were a lot of civil servants who liked it because they said to themselves: ‘finally, we see that we’re not all idiots. Finally, we see that we’re working.’ Because we didn’t just see the things that were going wrong, but also the things that were going well,” says Marceau. 

A tight deadline

Even before it began its work, the Gallant Commission faced criticism over allegations of an apparent conflict of interest. 

Opposition parties in the National Assembly have criticized the fact that some staff members have professional or friendly ties to the government or the SAAQ. They have gone so far as to call for the commission to be disbanded. 

Pigeon said he was “surprised” by the accusations, but the team decided to keep “focus” on its investigative work. 

“Ultimately, I think we did a good job. Let’s face it, I think we did a good job,” says the former Quebec City police chief. 

“As soon as we heard from the witnesses, the focus shifted to the real issue: the investigation. And the opposition asked to expand the mandate. That says it all,” says Tremblay. 

He emphasizes that rules have been put in place to regulate the issue of conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest in order to ensure public confidence.  

Pigeon also remains “convinced that if we had chosen people who had never been part of a commission of inquiry, we would not have had enough time to achieve what we achieved.” 

The Charbonneau commission took three to six months to get off the ground, says Pigeon, while the SAAQclic commission lasted less than a year in total. 

“We had a decree (from the government) on March 24, the opening statement on April 24, and on Oct. 24 (the commissioner) will make the closing statement. It’s really short,” says Marceau. 

Over the coming weeks, members of the commission will be called upon to assist Commissioner Denis Gallant in drafting his report, expected by Feb. 13. 

The Gallant Commission in figures 

– more than 130 witnesses heard during the public hearings

– more than 300 people met by investigators

– Around 60 employees

– 75 days of public hearings

– more than 200,000 documents studied

– 4 million emails received and processed

– Total budget unknown at the moment

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews