A long-serving minister in Quebec’s Coalition Avenir Québec government has resigned amid a scandal over at least half a billion dollars in cost overruns related to the auto insurance board’s online platform.
Cybersecurity and Digital Technology Minister Éric Caire made the announcement Thursday on social media, calling the controversy surrounding the digital transformation of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) “totally unacceptable.”
“Even though I assumed my responsibilities as minister in this matter and I have nothing to reproach myself for, apart from not having been suspicious enough, I came to the conclusion that it had become a distraction that was harmful to my government and my premier,” he said.
The resignation follows an explosive report last week by the province’s auditor general that revealed cost overruns of at least $500 million in the creation of the online platform, for a total cost of more than $1.1 billion.
On Thursday, news reports alleged Caire had helped the auto insurance board hide the rising cost from the public. Caire denied the reports.
Quebec Premier François Legault, who had previously defended his minister, told reporters Thursday that Caire chose to resign. “I’m going to get to the bottom of things,” he said. “I have absolutely nothing to hide.”
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He said he will name Caire’s replacement in a matter of days.
The auto insurance board thought it would save hundreds of millions of dollars with the new online portal, SAAQclic. But auditor Guylaine Leclerc found that two years after it was implemented, it takes longer to deliver services and the cost is higher than with the previous system.
The botched 2023 rollout of the online platform led to major delays and long lineups at SAAQ branches, where Quebecers take road tests, register vehicles, and access other services.
The auditor also found that the auto insurance board chose to mask $222 million in cost overruns to avoid “media and political risk.”
In response, Caire and other Quebec ministers claimed they had been unaware of the cost overruns and accused the SAAQ of lying to them. Earlier this week, the government asked the province’s financial watchdog—Autorités des marchés publics—and the anti-corruption police to investigate the matter.
Still, Caire has faced mounting pressure to resign over the last week. On Thursday, news reports claimed he had known about the spiralling costs and had helped the auto insurance board hide the $222-million overrun.
After Caire’s resignation, Quebec’s opposition parties reiterated their demand for a public inquiry to shed more light on the affair. “Just because they’ve sacrificed Mr. Caire today, that doesn’t mean there is no more problem,” Liberal House leader Monsef Derraji told reporters in Quebec City.
“It’s not over,” said Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal. “This is the beginning of the story.”
Legault said he doesn’t think a public inquiry is necessary. “I don’t think there’s corruption,” he said. Still, he left the door open to further investigation, saying he’s going to “shine light” on the matter.
