SAAQclic: French added a ‘complexity,’ says former IBM executive

Screens are visible in the courtroom of the Gallant Commission, which is investigating the technological transformation of the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQclic) in Montreal on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (The Canadian Press/Christinne Muschi)

Language posed “a major challenge” in the development of the SAAQclic platform since much of the work was carried out in India, a former IBM executive told the Gallant commission Wednesday.

Martine Gagné resumed her testimony before the inquiry examining the troubled technological transformation of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).

She said the pool of French-speaking employees in Quebec able to carry out the IT project was limited. Given the scope of the development work, “there wasn’t the availability in French on the market in Quebec,” she said.

As a result, the consortium of firms SAP and LGS, owned by IBM, had no choice but to turn to resources abroad.

“The main strike force came from India,” said Gagné, who is now retired from IBM.

That led to translation issues.

“French added a level of complexity. Having to translate specifications from French to English to send them over there, then having simultaneous translators — it was something. Walking around the floor, you’d think you were at the United Nations. Everyone had their headsets on,” she said.

“We had no choice because we didn’t have the strike force in French that was needed. It wasn’t easy for team members,” she added.

Commissioner Denis Gallant noted that the SAAQ’s tender documents were clear that “French was a very important requirement.”

“When you bid on a Quebec government project where French is the common language, maybe it was a bit naïve to underestimate that,” Gallant said.

Gagné maintained the consortium had taken the language requirements into account and factored in the related costs.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Oct. 1, 2025.