Latest news with #DenisGallant
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
SAAQ cleanup isn't over yet, suggests Quebec Transport Minister
Judge Denis Gallant of the Commission d'enquête sur la gestion de la modernisation des systèmes informatiques de la Société de l'assurance automobile (SAAQ) awaits the start of the public inquiry into the failure of the SAAQclic platform in Montreal on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) Quebec Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault says the 'cleanup' at the Société d'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) isn't over yet, and promises further action will be taken soon. She made the comment on Wednesday, according to Noovo Info, as she pointed out that she shares the 'anger of Quebecers' who are paying attention to the Gallant Commission hearings on the Crown corporation's failed SAAQclic digital shift. READ MORE: Quebec government reassigns head of SAAQ amid scandal 'This is an organization in crisis at a critical time. It needs someone who can manage it accordingly,' Guilbault insisted. This comes after SAAQ President and CEO Éric Ducharme was fired from his role on Wednesday. In speaking about her decision to reassign him, Guilbault noted that the atmosphere during her meetings with Ducharme was sometimes tinged with 'passivity.' Annie Lafond, currently vice president of insured services at the SAAQ, is slated to replace him as interim CEO for an indefinite period of time. 'In my opinion, Ms. Lafond has the ideal profile to take the reins of the SAAQ. I thank her for accepting,' Guilbault said of the appointment on Wednesday. Before joining the SAAQ four months ago, Lafond was vice president of digital transformation and customer experience at Beneva. She would not say if she wanted the job on a more permanent basis. 'Lack of interest' Ducharme's name has been mentioned several times throughout the commission. He first took office in April 2023, replacing Denis Marsolais, who was dismissed in the wake of the SAAQClic fiasco. Last month, it was revealed that three SAAQ auditors resigned in quick succession in 2024, saying they were disappointed by Ducharme's lack of interest in their work. 'It was like being spat on,' said former internal auditor Marie-Line Lalonde in her testimony before the Gallant Commission. Lalonde explained that her department waited nine months before securing a meeting with the CEO. During that time, internal auditors continued to identify numerous problems related to the new SAAQclic platform, such as the collection of certain fees and taxes. However, during the long-awaited meeting on Jan. 24, 2024, the CEO was 'sitting in his chair with his arms crossed,' Lalonde recalled. When pressed on the issue in recent months, Quebec Premier François Legault and Guilbault refused to publicly confirm their confidence in Ducharme. Legault had previously suggested that he wanted to wait for the Gallant report, expected by Dec. 15, 2025. Following Ducharme's firing, Guilbault argued that the government 'cannot afford to wait for the report, because this situation has been going on for a long time' at the SAAQ. READ MORE: Current SAAQ CEO Ducharme criticized once again at Gallant commission In addition to the Gallant Commission, investigations are underway by the anti-corruption unit (UPAC), the Autorité des marchés publics and the Quebec Transport Ministry. Double failure? Ducharme is the second SAAQ CEO to be appointed and dismissed by Legault's government. It's a 'double admission of failure,' according to Quebec Liberal (PLQ) transportation critic Monsef Derraji. 'They are trying to clean house at the top of the organization, but political responsibility cannot be swept under the rug,' he said in a message to The Canadian Press. 'Nothing is working, and Ms. Guilbault must stop blaming others and take responsibility.' Parti Québécois (PQ) transportation critic Joël Arseneau added that the announcement of Ducharme's dismissal comes 'in the middle of summer, when people are starting their vacations.' 'Accountability will come sooner or later, and I think Quebecers will judge the CAQ very harshly for its overall performance, but particularly for its handling of this fiasco,' he said. READ MORE: Quebec minister announces audit of SAAQ outage Québec solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal took to X to add, 'After months of improvisation, we are right to wonder whether she [Guilbault] is still the right person to regain the public's trust.' Guilbault defended herself against the accusations, saying she was 'extremely present on a weekly basis at the SAAQ.' 'We are in constant contact with the SAAQ to ensure that things improve,' she said. 'Ultimately, it is my responsibility to replace [the CEO] if things don't work out.' All the same, the Quebec government professionals union (SPGQ) said it considers the firing a 'good first step toward cleaning up management' at the Crown corporation. 'The subcontracts responsible for the SAAQclic fiasco must also be cleaned up,' argued fourth vice-president Daniel Goyette. With files from The Canadian Press.
CTV News
03-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
SAAQclic: Judge Denis Gallant refuses to grant participant status to Karl Malenfant
Commissioner Denis Gallant presides over a special inquiry into the causes and circumstances underlying the problems with managing and implementing the CASA program for the Societe d'Assurance automobile du Quebec, in Quebec City on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press) Judge Denis Gallant, who is leading the inquiry into the SAAQclic fiasco, refused on Thursday to grant participant status to Karl Malenfant. The former vice-president of information technology at Quebec's auto insurance board (SAAQ) had requested to be a participant on June 18. In his decision handed down on Thursday, Gallant stressed that Malenfant does not need such status as he will be invited to testify before the inquiry at the end of the summer. Participant status would have allowed Malenfant to cross-examine witnesses, as SAAQ lawyers have been doing since the beginning of the proceedings. The SAAQclic fiasco is expected to cost taxpayers at least $1.1 billion by 2027, according to calculations by the Auditor General of Quebec. Malenfant, whose name is constantly mentioned at the commission, laments facing a 'significant reputational risk.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French July 3, 2025. By Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
SAAQ CEO Éric Ducharme's testimony will not be heard, Gallant rules
Commissioner Denis Gallant presides over a special inquiry into the causes and circumstances underlying the problems with managing and implementing the CASA program for the Societe d'Assurance automobile du Quebec, in Quebec City on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press) Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) CEO Éric Ducharme's testimony will not be heard before the Gallant Commission. On Tuesday, Commissioner Denis Gallant rejected the SAAQ's request that Ducharme be allowed to quickly give his version of events. The day before, former auditor Marie-Line Lalonde testified that Ducharme had very little interest in internal auditing, even after the SAAQclic scandal. The lawyer representing the SAAQ, Sébastien Laprise, argued on Monday that Lalonde's statements had the potential to undermine public confidence in the Crown corporation. However, Gallant ruled on Tuesday that it was not 'appropriate' to grant the SAAQ's request, since it already has party status on the commission. He pointed out that its lawyers will have ample opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses. The commissioner confirmed that Ducharme will be heard when proceedings resume after the summer break. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 17, 2025.
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Current SAAQ CEO Ducharme criticized once again at Gallant commission
Commissioner Denis Gallant, centre back, presides over an inquiry into the causes and circumstances underlying the problems with managing and implementing the CASA program for the Societe d'Assurance automobile du Quebec, in Quebec City on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press) In 2024, three auditors from Quebec's auto insurance board - the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) - resigned, disappointed by CEO Éric Ducharme's lack of interest in their work. 'It was like being spat on,' said former auditor Marie-Line Lalonde on Monday during her testimony before the Gallant Commission, which is tasked with uncovering the truth behind the SAAQclic fiasco. Lalonde explained that her department had to wait nine months before getting a meeting with Ducharme, who was appointed in 2023 by the Legault government to turn around the situation at the SAAQ. During that meeting, which finally took place in January 2024, the new CEO was 'sitting in his chair with his arms crossed,' Lalonde recalled. 'It was a very cold approach. (...) If he could have gotten up and left, he would have. (...) We told him that we were working for him, that we were there to help him,' she said. 'It was as if he was saying, 'I don't want your work.'' Ducharme no longer wanted the internal audit to 'rock the boat,' but in auditing, 'the goal is not to get along with the sectors,' it is to be factual, according to the chartered professional accountant. She and her team were 'really disappointed' after the meeting with Ducharme, so much so that they decided it was probably time for them to 'update their CVs.' Three of them left the SAAQ at the same time in early 2024. Former auditor Vincent Poirier testified on May 29 that Ducharme did not 'want' a report detailing the IT problems discovered following the failed launch of SAAQclic. During his end-of-session review on June 6, Premier François Legault refused to reiterate his confidence in Ducharme. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 16, 2025.
Montreal Gazette
13-06-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Gallant commission into SAAQclic scandal extended to Dec. 15
Quebec Politics QUEBEC — The Legault government announced Thursday that it has agreed to extend the Gallant Commission's investigation into the SAAQclic fiasco until Dec. 15, 2025. Commissioner Denis Gallant was initially scheduled to submit his final report by Sept. 30. He clearly needs more time to fulfill his mandate; testimony has been pouring in for six weeks, but it is far from over. The commission heard from several former members of the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) board of directors, former internal auditors, and a former vice-president of finance. It has not yet met with the presidents and CEOs, the project manager who was central to the digital shift, Karl Malenfant, or Legault government ministers. The SAAQ's failed digital transformation is expected to cost taxpayers at least $1.1 billion by 2027, or $500 million more than expected, according to calculations by the auditor general. The hearings, which were scheduled to end on June 20, will now resume in Montreal at the end of August. SAAQ hid costs On Thursday, former SAAQ Vice-President of Finance Yves Frenette — testifying for the third consecutive day — grudgingly acknowledged that the government corporation had hidden costs in 2022. In June 2022, Frenette was invited to review a 'placemat' intended for Ministers Éric Caire and François Bonnardel, which indicated that the cost of the digital project was $682 million. But it was actually $945 million, Frenette acknowledged Thursday, saying he wasn't surprised to see this figure in the auditor's report that sparked controversy last February. The figure presented to politicians includes the 'implementation' cost, but not the 'recurring' cost, which had been part of the original calculation. The commission's lawyer, Marie-Claude Sarrazin, then suggested to Frenette that they had stopped comparing 'apples to apples' and were instead comparing 'an apple to half an apple.' Frenette could only agree. No further details on the discussions with the ministers have been released so far. Timing 'suits the CAQ', Liberals say The official opposition in the National Assembly says it understands the need to extend the commission's work. 'Given the scope of the scandal, the mass of information, and the number of testimonies, I understand,' Quebec Liberal Party House Leader Monsef Derraji said. However, he deplored the fact that the report will not be submitted until after the end of the fall parliamentary session, when MNAs return to their ridings for the Christmas holidays. 'No debate in the Assembly or accountability before elected officials: let's be frank, that suits the CAQ government perfectly,' Derraji said. The Parti Québécois agreed. 'Premier François Legault, who wanted to move quickly, now seems much less eager to obtain the conclusions of the investigation,' MNA Joël Arseneau said. He emphasized that the testimonies have been, so far, 'damning,' the revelations 'troubling' and marked by 'suspicions of corruption.' 'We have the impression that the government took the opportunity to postpone the submission of the report until after the end of the session to avoid being held accountable before the end of 2025,' he added. Québec solidaire said Thursday that it would reserve its comments. 'Extremely dense' evidence On Thursday, commission spokesperson Joanne Marceau said it was indeed the commission that requested a two-and-a-half-month extension. In a telephone interview, she stated that investigators had received 100,000 documents and then met with 160 witnesses, 42 of whom were questioned before the commissioner. 'Our evidence is extremely dense. ... No witness is useless,' she said.
