The Official Opposition is calling for an independent oversight firm to monitor the operations of Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), going against the stance of its Transport critic, Monsef Derraji.
Provincial Liberal Leader Pablo Rodriguez has raised concerns about the ability of the CAQ government to effectively supervise the SAAQ, citing their track record with public funds.
During a press event at Parliament on Tuesday morning, Rodriguez diverged from the perspective of his Transport critic, Derraji, who was present and had previously urged the government to implement oversight on the SAAQ.
Expressing the leader’s viewpoint, Rodriguez emphasized the need to entrust oversight to an external entity due to the government’s alleged incompetence and the SAAQ’s mismanagement and lack of transparency.
When questioned about the specifics of the oversight mechanism, Rodriguez indicated that discussions were underway within the parliamentary wing to determine the appropriate supervision methods.
In a separate development, the ongoing inquiry led by Judge Denis Gallant is investigating the SAAQclic debacle, focusing on the organization’s digital transformation challenges over recent years.
During his recent appearance, François Legault stated that he had not been informed about significant cost overruns until February 2025, when the Auditor General’s report was released, highlighting a lack of transparency and accountability within the system.
Legault expressed dissatisfaction with the delayed revelation of the $500 million overspending, stressing the need for improved monitoring processes to prevent such financial discrepancies from going unnoticed.
