SAAQclic: Expert suggests creating a Quebec company specializing in IT services

Screens are visible in the courtroom of the Gallant Commission, a public inquiry into the problems with the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec's online portal, SAAQclic, in Montreal on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

An expert in the governance of major public projects is proposing the creation of a “Quebec Information Technology Corporation” to address the lack of expertise and the dependence of government departments and agencies on outsourcing for IT projects.

Pierre-André Hudon, associate professor in the management department at the Université Laval, made the recommendation before the Gallant Commission on Monday.

The inquiry into the failures of the digital transformation of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) is entering its final week of public hearings. Over the next few days, it will hear recommendations from experts.

Hudon believes that Quebec could set up a “centralized unit specializing in IT [information technology]” to support government departments and agencies. Many of them “do not have the internal expertise to effectively manage” IT projects, and some rarely undertake this type of contract. And “the government struggles to counterbalance large private firms” in this area, the professor argued.

“Hence the importance of having a pool of expertise available to ministries, especially those that undertake IT projects less often,” Hudon said.

Among other things, this specialized unit could monitor market developments, support planning, “know how to translate technical needs into clear and appropriate specifications,” and produce “independent and credible” cost estimates, he said.

It could be modeled on the Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI), whose mission is to provide construction, operation, and property management services to organizations.

“The idea is to be able to centralize expertise within a government agency,” Hudon said.

In his view, the Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology (MCN) could play this “pivotal role.” However, its current mandate does not specifically mention contract support and management, the professor notes.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Oct. 20, 2025.

By Frédéric Lacroix-Couture, The Canadian Press