Karl Malenfant, the key player in leading the digital transformation at Quebec’s Société de l’assurance automobile (SAAQ), described the state-owned entity as immensely wealthy during his recent testimony.
As the former VP of information technology at SAAQ, Malenfant faced scrutiny during his third consecutive appearance before the Gallant Commission. During the hearing, prosecutor Alexandre Thériault-Marois brought up a past conversation from April 2025 involving Malenfant and Caroline Lortie from the Autorité des marchés publics.
In that discussion, Malenfant emphasized that the digital transition was not solely about costs, emphasizing that the SAAQ can be seen as a financial powerhouse, boasting assets worth billions. He specifically cited a staggering $15 billion held in the Caisse de dépôt.
However, Thériault-Marois pointed out that SAAQ is actually running at a deficit, and the considerable funds are designated for supporting victims of road accidents.
The Gallant Commission’s primary focus is on the unraveling of SAAQ’s unsuccessful digital transformation efforts. The Quebec auditor general’s projections indicate a cost of $1.1 billion by 2027, surpassing the initial estimate by $500 million.
