SAAQ apologizes for 'undermining the confidence of Quebecers' with SAAQclic fiasco
QUEBEC — The province’s auto insurance board has presented its “sincere apologies” for the failure of its digital platform launch in 2023 and has vowed to do better to regain the confidence of Quebecers.
In a statement issued late Monday following the
publication of the Gallant commission report detailing the fiasco and massive cost overruns
, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec says it will spare no effort to conform to the recommendations of the report.
“The SAAQ today wants to express its sincere apologies to all Quebecers for the failures which contributed to undermining the confidence of Quebecers in their institutions,” the government agency says in the statement.
The SAAQ says it plans to fully cooperate with the government and notes specific actions aimed at improving its governance have already been put in place.
“We have put in place new strategic controls, elaborated an action plan in contractual management, reinforced the framework for contract management and revised the profiles and competency requirements in the nomination of upper managers and the board of directors.”
The apology and pledge to do better follow publication Monday of commissioner Denis Gallant’s
report on the SAAQclic fiasco,
which revealed the SAAQ had been lying for years to the government about the real costs of the platform.
Instead of costing $458 million over 10 years, the final price tag will be $1.1 billion.
Later Tuesday, the president of the Treasury Board, France-Élaine Duranceau, is to hold a news conference to react to the report.
This story will be updated.