A public inquiry looking into a problematic digital transition by Quebec’s automobile insurance board revealed on Monday that the province might face costs nearly half a billion dollars over budget.
Alain Fortin, the interim auditor general for Quebec, testified that due to cost overruns, the final expense for the SAAQclic project could reach $1.1 billion by 2027—almost $500 million higher than originally forecasted.
The project, which started in 2017, was expected to require $638 million over a decade. Fortin mentioned that the board has since stopped monitoring operating costs, assuming they will at least match the initial budget from 2017.
The projected total accounts for both implemented services and those still incomplete. However, several phases remain on hold without set completion dates.
“The $1.1 billion encompasses future costs, current expenses, and all combined costs. It could increase… If they aim to achieve the initial goals, it could end up being even higher,” Fortin stated during the inquiry.
Earlier this month, Premier François Legault expressed doubts regarding the auditor general’s calculations in the national assembly, arguing that “the cost of the program” and “the maintenance costs” should be assessed separately.
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Fortin emphasized the need to ensure that “apples are compared with apples.” He highlighted that the board has stopped tracking operating costs, and the auditor general’s report predicted the operational costs would at least match those budgeted initially in 2017.
This digital upgrade aimed to create a seamless platform for renewing licenses, booking driving tests, and completing other tasks without needing an in-person visit.
By 2023, the project led to significant issues for the provincial government, as frustrated residents found themselves waiting in long lines at branches for services that were supposed to be available online.
Much of Fortin’s testimony was based on an auditor’s report from February 2025, which concluded that SAAQclic was a failure and that the board, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec, had overspent its budget with little to show for it.
Some issues were already apparent in 2022 before the system was fully operational, but management insisted everything was on track.
“In fact, the rollout of the new computer system has caused significant problems and has yet to deliver the benefits that were anticipated,” the auditor general noted. “Two years after its launch, issues continue to exist.”
The inquiry, led by Montreal municipal court judge Denis Gallant, is expected to submit its findings by September 30.
Following the auditor’s report, Éric Caire resigned from his position as minister of cybersecurity and digital technology. Premier Legault’s government initiated the public inquiry to clarify the failures in the software implementation for the board.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
