A former senior official at Quebec’s Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs says he was never informed in 2022 of additional costs of $222 million to modernize the IT systems of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).
Pierre E. Rodrigue continued his testimony Tuesday morning before the Gallant Commission. He was a deputy minister when Éric Caire was head of the ministry.
During a meeting in Oct. 2022 between Caire, Rodrigue, and the SAAQ on the progress of the SAAQclic platform, the project’s costs were discussed in particular. The government corporation indicated that “the budgets confirmed in Sept. 2020 are being respected.” These amounted to $682 million, according to what the SAAQ presented in a dashboard.
“It was discussed because the ministers and deputy ministers know that it’s money that’s killing us,” said Rodrigue. “(…) We had confirmation that financially we continue to be in the firing line.”
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“There was no discussion” of a $222 million cost overrun, either in October or at a previous meeting in June 2022, the official said.
Commission prosecutor Alexandre Thériault-Marois pointed out that a $45.7 million “amendment,” an additional amount to the contract of the consortium formed by LGS and SAP, was circulating during the same period. This addition was signed on Oct. 31, 2022.
Thériault-Marois asked if Caire and Rodrigue were informed of the signing of this amendment during the October meeting.
“Mr. Commissioner, under oath, I say no,” Rodrigue replied firmly. “And I can’t have forgotten it because, if it had been said there, to Mr. Caire—I know Mr. Caire—he would have gotten angry and I would remember it. So, it was never, ever discussed at that time.”
The state-owned company’s IT project, called CASA, which includes the SAAQclic platform, is expected to cost at least $1.1 billion, or $500 million more than expected, according to the Auditor General of Quebec.
Former Minister Caire is expected to testify before the Gallant Commission this week. Caire left office last February following the publication of the auditor general report.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
