Quebec Premier François Legault announces public inquiry into auto board scandal

Quebec Premier François Legault says he will launch a public inquiry into the scandal involving at least half a billion dollars in cost overruns related to the auto insurance board’s online platform.

The premier said in a post on X that he’s asked the government’s secretary general to prepare a decree to launch a public investigation to shed light on what happened.

The province’s cybersecurity minister stepped down last week after an explosive report by the province’s auditor general revealed cost overruns of at least $500 million in the creation of the online platform known as SAAQclic.

Éric Caire maintained he’d been kept in the dark about the cost overruns, and denied media reports that he had helped the auto insurance board hide the rising cost from the public.

The botched 2023 rollout of the online platform led to major delays and long lineups at insurance board branches, where Quebecers take road tests, register vehicles and access other services.

Legault said he wants to know how a such a poorly prepared initiative could have been launched, and promised he wouldn’t hesitate to discipline those involved if needed.

“If after these investigations we have to act and sanction those responsible, we will do it,” Legault wrote. “I will not hesitate. I have committed to ensuring that our leaders are accountable and I will respect my commitment.”