A Quebec minister has resigned following a scandal involving cost overruns of at least $500 million in the digital transformation of the province’s auto insurance board, according to a report from The Canadian Press.
Cybersecurity and Digital Technology Minister Éric Caire announced his resignation on social media, describing the situation at the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) as “totally unacceptable.” He stated that while he had done nothing wrong apart from not being more cautious, the controversy had become a distraction for the government and Premier François Legault.
The resignation follows a report from the province’s auditor general, which revealed that the online platform SAAQclic had exceeded its initial budget, bringing the total cost to more than $1.1 billion. The platform was expected to save hundreds of millions of dollars but has resulted in higher costs and slower service delivery.
Reports on Thursday alleged that Caire had helped the auto insurance board conceal the rising costs. Caire denied the allegations.
Quebec Premier François Legault, who had previously supported Caire, told reporters that the minister had decided to step down. The premier said he would appoint a replacement within days and reiterated his commitment to determining what went wrong.
Caire and other Quebec ministers have said they were unaware of the true costs and accused the SAAQ of misleading them. The government has requested investigations by the province’s financial watchdog, Autorités des marchés publics, and the anti-corruption police.
SAAQ has been facing problems from the start. The platform’s chaotic rollout in 2023 caused significant delays and long wait times at SAAQ branches where residents access services, including vehicle registration and road tests.
In April 2023, Quebec’s Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault requested to suspend SAAQ’s new facial recognition project “until further notice.” A month earlier, Legault vowed to personally evaluate the work performance of those running SAAQ.
Despite Caire’s resignation, opposition parties are calling for a public inquiry. Liberal House leader Monsef Derraji said the issue remains unresolved, while Québec solidaire’s Ruba Ghazal described the resignation as only the beginning of the matter.
Legault has said he does not believe a public inquiry is necessary, stating there is no evidence of corruption, but he has left open the possibility of further investigation.
