The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) has issued a public apology and announced plans for a significant restructuring following the acknowledgment of failures in its troubled digital transformation. The organization aims to regain the trust of citizens after a report by commissioner Denis Gallant highlighted various issues with the SAAQclic platform.
In the detailed 586-page report, Gallant revealed that the SAAQ had misled provincial authorities by providing misleading and deceptive information to conceal escalating costs related to the digital transition. The agency admitted that senior management had failed to properly inform officials and the public about the management of the transformation project.
Expressing regret for these shortcomings, the SAAQ apologized to all Quebecers for eroding their faith in public institutions. The Crown corporation pledged full cooperation with the government to implement the report’s recommendations and emphasized ongoing efforts to enhance governance.
SAAQ’s President and CEO, Serge Lamontagne, affirmed the commitment to translating recommendations into tangible actions and dedicated resources towards this goal. Meanwhile, Premier François Legault mentioned exploring potential legal actions against SAAQ executives for alleged misinformation that led to the project’s total cost soaring to $1.1 billion.
In response to the commission’s findings, Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau will address the public in a news conference on Tuesday to address the implications of the report and the government’s next steps.
Keyphrase: SAAQ digital transformation
