On Friday morning in Montreal, Justice Denis Gallant delivered the opening address to the Gallant Commission, which is investigating problems encountered by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) in its digital shift.
“Nothing will stop us from pursuing this mission, we will find out the truth, no matter who the parties involved are,” said Gallant on the first day of the Commission of Inquiry into the Management of the Modernization of the Computer Systems of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec.
Over the coming months, Gallant said he will attempt to shed light on the SAAQclic fiasco.
According to the Auditor General, the SAAQ’s unsuccessful digital shift led to long queues in front of many branches in 2023, costing $500 million more than expected for a total exceeding $1.1 billion by 2027.
The commission’s mandate is to investigate “the causes and circumstances of the problems encountered in managing and implementing the CASA program,” which includes the introduction of the SAAQclic platform.
It must also investigate “the level of knowledge of those in authority within the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec, as well as the departments concerned, and the management problems identified by the Auditor General of Quebec, Guylaine Leclerc.”
Apparent conflict of interest
Since Gallant’s appointment, Quebec’s opposition parties in the National Assembly have cast doubt on his impartiality because of his ties to Treasury Board President Sonia LeBel.
She was chief prosecutor for the Charbonneau Commission, which looked into the awarding and management of public contracts in the construction industry.
Her deputy at the time was current Gallant commission chairperson Denis Gallant.
In response, Gallant says he has limited his exchanges with witnesses known to him and has indicated that he will meet with witnesses only when they address the commission in public.
Gallant explained on Friday that he had “ordered all members of the commission to declare, without delay, any past or present links” with the witnesses.
“Our commission will be guided by the principles of transparency and integrity,” he said, promising to “turn over every stone” to enable the public to discover the truth.
Simon Tremblay, who was deputy chief prosecutor for the Charbonneau Commission, will act as chief prosecutor for the Gallant Commission.
The commission’s investigation team is made up of some 15 experts, as is the legal team.
Autorité des marchés publics intervention in the case
On April 10, the Autorité des marchés publics (AMP) ordered the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) to suspend all contracts related to the SAAQclic project for 30 days.
Since the Auditor General revealed that there was a major cost overrun in February, the SAAQ has not put in place “any mitigation measures” to curb its spending of public funds, the AMP reported in a press release.
A conclusion before the fall
The commission is expected to submit the findings of its investigation by Sept. 30.
The SAAQ fiasco has dominated discussions in the National Assembly since the tabling of the Auditor General’s explosive report, which revealed cost overruns of at least $500 million.
François Legault’s government defended itself, saying it had been fooled.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 24, 2025.
