Feb. 25, 2026 — The Quebec government is considering possible legal actions against individuals and firms involved in the work involved with the troubled modernization project at the province’s auto insurance board.

The digital transformation project for the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec was subject to millions of dollars of overruns and millions more for an inquiry into the problems.

“We are analyzing all available disciplinary mechanisms to ensure that those responsible and at fault within the public administration and the SAAQ face the consequences of their actions,” said France- Élaine Duranceau, the province’s minister responsible for government administration and state efficiency.

Founded in 1978, the SAAQ is a Quebec Crown corporation that is responsible for issuing driver’s licenses, registering vehicles and managing public auto insurance. It provides no-fault insurance covering personal injuries, and drivers in the province obtain separate private coverage for property damage.

The SAAQ has acknowledged the findings of a commission that has investigated the problems with the project for the past year.

The commission concluded that senior SAAQ management failed in its duty to adequately inform elected officials and the public about the progress and management of the digital transformation, compounded by the troubled launch of the SAAQclic system and significant cost increases.

The SAAQ has apologized to Quebecers, saying the shortcomings undermined confidence in public institutions.

It also said it will fully co-operate with the government in implementing the commission’s recommendations, noting the report complements earlier work by the Quebec auditor general, the Autorité des marchés publics and the government’s restructuring unit.

The Crown corporation said it has begun implementing governance changes, including new strategic controls, the development of a contract-management action plan, strengthening oversight frameworks and revising competency and experience profiles for senior executives and board members.

SAAQ president and CEO Serge Lamontagne said the organization will turn the commission’s recommendations into concrete measures and present a structured action plan.

“We must learn from this,” he said.

Mr. Lamontagne said the organization will “spare no effort” to implement the changes.

The commission leading the enquiry, led by Judge Denis Gallant, concluded that senior management of the SAAQ lied to the government and parliamentarians about the progress of the CASA program.

“After weighing all the evidence, the commission is of the opinion that for a significant portion of the (implementation of the digital transformation project), the SAAQ lied to parliamentarians, ministers and their staff about its progress,” the commission said.

It found misleading reports were submitted to conceal cost overruns, particularly during delays associated with Phase 2 between 2019 and 2023.

Despite inconsistencies in financial reporting, the commission said the board of directors was generally able to carry out its decision- making role and was informed of overruns as costs increased, allowing it to see that expected benefits were diminishing.

However, the commission questioned whether significant reallocations of contract funds respected legislative intent.

They required additional expenditures exceeding an original contract value by more than 10%.

The commission also cited contract-monitoring problems with accountability reports that “served as a smokescreen for the (modernization program’s) failures.”

The commission said the SAAQ’s repeated claims that it was complying with its contract or had a firm contract “were, in fact, meaningless.”

The commission also concluded that the SAAQ provided misleading information to members of Quebec’s National Assembly for several years, including documentation that gave parliamentarians the impression that the program was proceeding within its initial budget when it was not.

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