Renovations at the SAAQ: PLQ denounces cost overruns of $17 million

Quebec Liberal Party Official Opposition House Leader Monsef Derraji reacts to SAAQ scandal during question period at the legislature in Quebec City, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Karoline Boucher / The Canadian Press) (Karoline Boucher/The Canadian Press)

The cost of renovating the head office of Quebec’s auto insurance board (SAAQ) has risen from $89.7 million to $107 million, according to figures put forward by Liberal MNA Monsef Derraji.

“And there are other contracts that have not been launched,” he said during Wednesday’s study of the Ministry of Transport’s appropriations.

Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault said she was “absolutely not” proud of these cost overruns of more than $17 million.

“I have asked the new chair of the board of directors, Ms. Dominique Savoie, to play an even more active and proactive role in monitoring contracts,” said Guilbault in response to questions from the Liberal MNA.

“The way we can ensure the most rigorous possible control of spending is through the Board of Directors, which is appointed by the government, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” she added.

Guilbault also defended herself, saying that “normally the aim of the renovations is to be able to generate income from renting and lending the premises.”

Derraji taunted the minister by writing on his X account: “fougère mal gérée par Geneviève Guilbault” (mismanagement by Geneviève Guilbault).

The SAAQ has been in the hot seat for several months over the SAAQclic fiasco, with cost overruns estimated at at least $500 million.

The Quebec-owned company has also been grappling with a computer breakdown since Tuesday, which forced the closure of its service centres.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 7, 2025.