SAAQclic: François Legault may be called on to appear before committee

Quebec Premier Francois Legault, along with Quebec Government House Leader and Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette, Quebec Education Minister Bernard Drainville and Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube and Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

The Gallant Commission is considering calling Quebec Premier François Legault to testify as part of its investigation into the failures of the digital transition of the province’s vehicle board, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).

The information was confirmed on Monday by a commission spokesperson to The Canadian Press.

It was earlier announced that Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel and Health Minister Christian Dubé will be called to testify by the end of the week.

Dubé has been called in connection with his time as Treasury Board president from October 2018 to June 2020.

Their colleague Éric Caire, who served as minister of Cybersecurity and Digital from 2022 to February 2025, will first give his version of events after hearing from his former chief of staff and a former deputy minister in the department.

The former Treasury Board president under the Couillard government, Pierre Moreau, has also been called to testify in the coming days.

Last week, CAQ ministers François Bonnardel and Geneviève Guilbault testified before the public inquiry commission.

The modernization of the SAAQ’s computer systems, which includes the SAAQclic platform, is expected to cost at least $1.1 billion, or $500 million more than planned, according to the Auditor General of Quebec.

– This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 25, 2024.