Following weeks of service slowdowns, Quebec Premier François Legault has announced that he will personally evaluate the work performance of those in charge of the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), the province's auto insurance board.
The issues began in the weeks leading up to the February 20 launch of SAAQclic, a platform that allows customers to conduct their transactions online, including renewing driving licenses and paying for a driving exam.
SAAQ had directed resources away from service centres in preparation for the launch, inadvertently causing lineups and delays.
During a media briefing on Tuesday, Legault acknowledged that there had been “a serious gap in planning” at SAAQ, and said he wants to evaluate the work of the SAAQ's administration in the “next few weeks.”
His announcement comes after the implementation of additional measures to reduce wait times at SAAQ service centres, including deadline extensions for the payment and renewal of certain driving licenses.
A report by CBC News highlighted comments from Digital Minister Éric Caire acknowledging that SAAQ’s digital transition had suffered from poor public communication.
“We did not inform the population enough,” he said. “We could have done better.”
SAAQ’s service delays have impacted both private and commercially licensed drivers alike. In a report by The Canadian Press, truckers voiced their frustrations over the delays as their registrations near the expiration date.
“This issue at the auto insurance board affects us all, but specifically for our industry, it's really the registrations that directly impact us, which expires on March 31 for all of us,” said Richard Pellerin, a self-employed trucker from Quebec’s Mauricie region.
A union representing SAAQ employees previously said it had warned managers that the SAAQclic platform was not yet ready for launch.
What are your thoughts on the ongoing SAAQ service disruptions? Feel free to share your comments below.
