Amid concerns about the security of digital data on Quebec’s new daycare registration portal, the Parti Québécois (PQ) is pushing for legislation to safeguard the province’s digital sovereignty.
Pascal Paradis, PQ’s spokesperson for cybersecurity and digital matters, criticized the Legault government for relying on an American platform to host Quebec children’s data, calling it an “abdication” of responsibility.
Recent reports revealed that the new portal, managed by American company Salesforce, has replaced the previous Quebec-based portal. Anonymous sources within the ministry have expressed worries about the privacy of children and parents.
PQ is advocating for measures that prioritize local companies for hosting sensitive Quebec data and has pledged to introduce a “digital sovereignty policy” should they come into power in 2026.
“We cannot continue down this path,” Paradis stated in a press release, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Quebecers’ data and the state’s interests.
In response, the Legault government maintains that the data is secure. Cybersecurity and Digital Minister Gilles Bélanger highlighted Quebec’s capabilities in encrypting sensitive data, hosting it within Canada, and controlling access through cryptographic keys.
Minister of Families Kateri Champagne-Jourdain assured the public that the data on the portal is stored in Canada, mentioning that only two providers met the tender criteria.
The debate between digital sovereignty and data security continues to unfold, raising important questions about protecting sensitive information in an increasingly digital world.
Keyphrase: Quebec digital sovereignty
