SAAQclic fiasco: Minister François Bonnardel’s says he was misled

Former transport minister François Bonnardel says he was unaware of the $500-million cost overrun as Quebec’s auto insurance digital project struggles.

CAQ Minister François Bonnardel insisted that he received incomplete and inaccurate information about the costs of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) IT project.

Bonnardel, who served as Minister of Transport from 2018 to 2022, gave his expected account of the events surrounding the SAAQclic fiasco on Thursday afternoon.

“My bullsh-t meter is pretty high. And I realize today that a few people have shamefully managed to provide inadequate information so that we are unable to see the real picture of the situation,” he said while concluding his testimony.

He criticized the state-owned corporation for not providing him with an accurate financial picture of the digital transition when he took office in November 2018.

He said he was given “an erroneous document in December 2020″ on the status of the project, which remained unchanged until the end of his term.

• READ MORE: SAAQclic: Legault’s office informed in 2020 of risk of cost overruns of IT project

His testimony followed this week’s appearance by political staffers who formed his cabinet when he was head of the Ministry of Transport.

Bonnardel is now the Minister of Public Security.

In recent days, former political advisors and cabinet directors have been questioned about what they knew and what actions they took regarding the SAAQ’s technological modernization.

The current Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault, is expected to testify on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 21, 2025.