SAAQclic: ‘I don’t like what I’m hearing,’ says François Legault

As testimony piles up at the Gallant Commission, Premier François Legault said Wednesday that he did not like what he was hearing in the SAAQclic case. 

“I was the one who launched a public inquiry. It’s important that Quebecers know exactly what happened,” he said upon his arrival at the National Assembly. 

Legault is scheduled to testify before the commission next Tuesday.  

“I certainly don’t like what I’ve been hearing since the beginning with the SAAQclic case (…) I think that everyone involved must agree to testify and that we shed full light on this case,” he added. 

In addition to the Premier, his chief of staff, Martin Koskinen, as well as the former Secretary General of the Executive Council, Yves Ouellet, will also appear before the committee next week. 

‘The truth always triumphs in the end‘

A man in the shadows, Koskinen nevertheless allowed himself a brief comment to journalists before entering the National Assembly. “The truth always triumphs in the end,” he said before slipping away.  

The Premier’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 notified in Sept. 2022 of a $222 million shortfall in delivering the SAAQclic platform.

Legault has so far always pleaded ignorance surrounding the cost overruns related to the SAAQ’s IT project, called CASA (Carrefour des services d’affaires).

The names of the Premier and his chief of staff appeared during the testimony of the current Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault, last Friday.

An email from Guilbault to Legault and Koskinen in Dec. 2024 was presented to the commission. The minister requested changes at the head of the SAAQ.

‘Never, ever, would I lie to Quebecers‘

During her testimony, Guilbault was confronted with documents showing that her office had obtained information on cost overruns surrounding the SAAQclic platform as early as 2023.

On Wednesday, the minister wanted to defend herself. 

“We are asked to answer according to our memories and the context of the moment. I had no memory of that 2023 document. Let me be very clear. I would never, ever lie to Quebecers, especially not in the context of an oath in a commission,” she assured. 

As of Wednesday morning, the testimony of former Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs, Éric Caire, continued before the committee. 

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews