Varying Levels of Accountability

In a shocking turn of events, the Quebec government is facing a governance crisis following the revelations of cost overruns in the SAAQclic project. The prime minister, François Legault, has appeared before the Gallant commission to address the issue, which has been described as a picture of ministerial irresponsibility.

The SAAQclic project, initially anticipated to cost over 200 million dollars, has been revealed to have cost 500 million dollars, according to the auditor general. This staggering increase in cost has raised serious questions about the oversight and decision-making roles of key officials, including François Bonnardel and Geneviève Guilbault, who were involved in the expansions of the project. However, specific activities contributing to the cost overruns have not been publicly detailed.

Prime Minister Legault has criticized his ministers of Transport for not asking enough questions about the costs of SAAQclic. In his testimony before the commission, Legault expressed his shock and dismay, swearing he knew nothing before February 2025. His chief of staff, Martin Koskinen, has corroborated these statements, admitting to not noticing the cost overruns due to the urgent management of the SAAQ's crisis.

Koskinen also admitted to being overwhelmed by bureaucratic documents and expected a cost increase due to the crisis management. This raises concerns about the level of oversight and management within the Council of Ministers and other major digital transition projects.

The commissioner, Gallant, will have to serve a lesson in good governance in his report. The incident reflects a blurred line between plausible denial and forced or voluntary blindness, leading to a malfunctioning governance with serious consequences.

The Epstein affair is not dead, and Trump is once again under pressure from his own to shed light on the activities of the pedophile. Trump finds himself facing his contradictions and Americans who demand the publication of the files.

This text is part of the Opinion section of Le Devoir, reflecting the values and position of the newspaper as defined by its director in collaboration with the editorial team. The CAQ government's situation reflects a blurred line between plausible denial and forced or voluntary blindness, leading to a malfunctioning governance with serious consequences.

Advisors are content with piecemeal information, and chief of staffs do not warn of impending storms. The former Liberal government was accused of signing a 2017 computer contract with insufficient protection against potential delays and cost overruns. These incidents highlight the need for greater transparency, accountability, and effective governance in Quebec's political landscape.