Éric Caire resigns as minister responsible for digital tech amid SAAQclic debacle
SAAQclic ran hundreds of millions over budget, still doesn't work properly, report says
Éric Caire, Quebec's minister responsible for cybersecurity and digital technology, stepped down on Thursday after facing a wave of criticism for his role in the SAAQclic debacle.
Last week, Quebec's auditor general said in a scathing report that SAAQclic, the provincial auto insurance board's new online platform, went hundreds of millions of dollars over budget and still doesn't work properly.
Premier François Legault broke the news at a media appearance in La Tuque, Que.
In a statement, Caire announced he was resigning from his role as minister, but defended his handling of the SAAQclic file. According to Radio-Canada, he is staying on as MNA for La Peltrie.
"Even though I assumed my ministerial responsibilities in this matter and have nothing to reproach myself for, apart from not being sufficiently suspicious," he said, "I came to the conclusion that it had become a distraction that was detrimental to my government and my premier.
"So I offered him my resignation as minister of cybersecurity and digital technology."
Earlier on Thursday, Caire had defended himself against reports that he helped Quebec's automobile insurance board, the SAAQ, hide the scale of the SAAQclic cost overruns during an election year.
At a news conference Thursday morning, Marc Tanguay, interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), said Caire had "been caught red-handed" and called for his resignation.
"This morning, one thing is certain: it's bye bye sheriff Éric Caire," he said. The PLQ and other opposition parties are also calling for the resignation of Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault and her predecessor, François Bonnardel.
The auditor general found that decision-makers at the SAAQ ignored problems with the SAAQclic platform before launching it. Once it was launched, the platform didn't work properly.
Last week, Guilbault defended the government's management of the file, arguing that she was misled by people inside the SAAQ.
She called for two additional investigations: one led by her office, as well as one by the Autorité des marchés publics (AMP), the agency that oversees public contracts.
"We have to finish cleaning up," Guilbault said.
She also contacted Quebec's anti-corruption squad, the Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC), after allegedly getting wind it was looking into the matter.
In a letter obtained by Radio-Canada that Guilbault sent to UPAC commissioner Éric René, she said, "I believe that this is essential analytical work in the circumstances and I have no doubt that you will, where appropriate, take the action you consider appropriate within the framework of your mission."
Opposition parties at the National Assembly are requesting a public inquiry into what went wrong with SAAQclic.
Legault says he will name Caire's replacement in a matter of days.
Written by Matthew Lapierre, with files from La Presse canadienne