Microsoft blamed as Quebec's SAAQ service centres shut down amid major IT outage
Live Events
Political backlash mounts over Quebec's digital failures
SAAQ promises fix, says no personal data breached
SAAQclic still under scrutiny amid renewed outage
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
A critical IT failure linked to Microsoft servers has forced the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) to shut down all its service centres for a second day, triggering a wave of political scrutiny and public inconvenience.The outage began at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6 affecting a suite of backend servers essential to various SAAQ operations, including its controversial online platform, SAAQclic. While the SAAQclic system itself remains 'functional,' users are currently unable to access it.Also read: EU power grid needs trillion-dollar upgrade to avert Spain-style blackouts "It's totally unacceptable, but it's not SAAQClic, it's Microsoft,' said Gilles Bélanger, Minister of Cybersecurity and the Digital Economy, in a media scrum Wednesday morning, May 7. Bélanger, who inherited the portfolio following the resignation of Éric Caire amid the SAAQclic debacle, added, 'I'm following the situation very closely.'As a result of the outage, all SAAQ service centres were closed Wednesday, except for those conducting practical driving tests. The SAAQ confirmed that clients with other types of appointments would be contacted for rescheduling 'in the coming days.'Although the government insists Microsoft is at fault, the incident quickly reignited criticism over the province's broader digital infrastructure strategy, particularly the SAAQclic project, which was launched with a price tag that ballooned by $500 million and led to widespread service disruptions in 2023.'It's a fiasco!' said Marc Tanguay, interim leader of the Liberal opposition, during a Wednesday news briefing. 'At what point does the Minister (of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault) become responsible?'Also read: Microsoft down! Massive outage strands users without email, apps Quebec Solidaire MNA Guillaume Cliche-Rivard said Quebecers had 'overpaid hundreds of millions for a project that probably doesn't work,' while Parti Québécois MNA Pascal Paradis called the situation 'very embarrassing' for the government. Paradis also stressed the 'real impact' on citizens and reiterated his party's call for an inquiry into all provincial IT contracts.Despite the SAAQ outage being blamed on Microsoft, the incident is deepening public skepticism about Quebec's digital governance and accountability.In an official statement, the SAAQ confirmed the outage was related to several Microsoft-managed servers, which support key services. The organization emphasized that 'our teams and those at Microsoft are fully mobilized and working tirelessly to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.'Also read: X Global Outage: Is it restored? What we know so far Importantly, the SAAQ reassured citizens that no personal data has been compromised as a result of the technical failure.Gino Desrosiers, a spokesperson for the SAAQ, said clients with canceled appointments would be offered alternatives. 'We're going to offer alternatives to minimize the inconvenience on our clientele,' Desrosiers told Radio-Canada.The board has not specified when services will resume or what the root cause of the Microsoft server issue is.The SAAQclic platform, which was intended to modernize how Quebecers interact with the SAAQ, has been marred by a series of setbacks since its troubled launch in 2023. Despite Bélanger's assertion that the platform itself is not to blame this time, the outage is reinforcing public distrust toward the government's digital shift.A public commission of inquiry is already examining the SAAQclic rollout, particularly its massive cost overruns and usability issues. The current outage, though technically unrelated, comes at a time when Quebec's digital ambitions are under a microscope.Also read: WhatsApp faces outage for the second time, netizens react While practical driving tests continue, all theoretical exams and in-person services are suspended indefinitely. The SAAQ said it will provide updates as soon as the issue is resolved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
FASTag Annual Pass Update: 200 highway trips for just INR 3,000: Everything you want to know about the yearly pass
FASTag is one of the best things that has been introduced for travellers. It is one thing that has solved a lot of issues, including toll booth traffic and making life easier for highway travellers. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), to make highways more affordable and convenient, launched an annual pass on 15 August 2025. The FASTag Annual Pass is a prepaid facility allowing private vehicle owners to take 200 toll-free trips across national highways and expressways for a fee of INR 3,000. The pass is valid for one year or 200 trips, whichever comes first. Let's have a look at some of the prime factors of FASTag Annual Pass: Eligibility The annual pass is only for private, non-commercial vehicles like cars, jeeps, and vans. Commercial vehicles such as taxis, buses, trucks can't use this. The pass is connected directly to the FASTag account and vehicle registration number (VRN) of the user. So it is also non-transferable. What happens if it is misused If a tag is found misused or linked only with a chassis number, it will be deactivated immediately. It is crucial to note that the pass applies only on NHAI and MoRTH-managed toll plazas. State highways, private toll roads, and parking facilities will continue to charge tolls through the standard pay-per-use FASTag system. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Passive Income Ideas Sitting at Home Mone Click Here Undo How to buy and activate (Rajmarg Yatra app) Log in to the Rajmarg Yatra app or visit the NHAI official website. Choose the annual pass option Confirm vehicle details Pay INR 3,000 through UPI, debit/credit cards, or net banking Note: Wallet balances are not accepted If the vehicle's FASTag is already active and linked to a registration number, it's a quick activation. In most cases, the pass activates within two hours. It can take up to 24 hours in rare situations. Once active, users receive a confirmation SMS. Understanding 200 trips concept Every crossing at a toll plaza is counted as one trip. So, for open toll systems, every time you pass through a plaza, one trip is deducted. On closed toll roads such as certain expressways, the entire journey—from entry to exit—is treated as a single trip. The pass remains valid until either 200 trips are used or one year has passed. After that, the FASTag automatically switches back to the regular mode. How is it a money saver deal So understand this: Your one-way toll on national highways might cost between INR 70 to INR 100. In one year, you might end up paying INR 10,000–15,000 on tolls. But with the annual pass, the effective cost per crossing comes down to just INR 15– INR 20. For those who frequently commute between cities—say, from Mumbai to Surat, Delhi to Jaipur, or Bengaluru to Hyderabad—the savings can add up to INR 7,000 or more per year. This is absolutely the thing passengers wanted. With the introduction of the FASTag Annual Pass, the government aims to make highway travel smoother, cashless, and more affordable for millions of private vehicle owners.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Microsoft Staff Stage Sit-In At HQ Over Company's Israel Links: 'Gaza Is Being Bombed'
Microsoft employees staged a sit-in at the Redmond campus, accusing the company of enabling Israeli military operations in Gaza. Dozens of Microsoft employees and former staff staged a sit-in at the company's campus in Redmond, Washington, accusing the tech giant of enabling Israeli military operations in Gaza through its software. The demonstrators, who declared part of the campus a 'Free Zone", held placards reading 'Join the Worker Intifada – No Labor for Genocide" and 'Martyred Palestinian Children's Plaza". The protest was organised by the activist group No Azure for Genocide, which has been calling on Microsoft to end contracts with Israel and divest from the country. It comes less than a week after Microsoft said it had launched an independent review into claims that its Azure cloud services were being used by the Israeli military for surveillance. Anger Over Surveillance Claims Earlier this month, reports in the Guardian and Israel's +972 Magazine alleged that Israel's military intelligence unit, Unit 8200, had used Azure to store mobile phone recordings of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. The company denied knowledge of such practices, saying, 'We are not aware of the surveillance of civilians or collection of their cellphone conversations using Microsoft's services. Based on these reviews, including interviewing dozens of employees and assessing documents, we have found no evidence to date that Microsoft's Azure and AI technologies have been used to target or harm people in the conflict in Gaza." One protester, former employee Hossam Nasr, said the action was prompted by what he described as Microsoft's inadequate response. He said, 'I watched [journalist] Anas al-Sharif report on Gaza relentlessly, through starvation, through extermination campaigns, through bombing. He was intentionally targeted." Another employee, Nasreen Jaradat, said, 'Every single second that we wait, things are worse and worse in Palestine. More and more people are being bombed and maimed. It's time for us to escalate, however we can." The protest comes amid growing concern from international organisations about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The UN has warned of 'widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease", while health authorities in Gaza estimate more than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military response to Hamas's 7 October attacks. view comments First Published: August 20, 2025, 16:39 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
Why Ukraine may get to join the EU but not Nato right now
Ukraine's push for European Union membership is advancing despite Hungary's resistance, but Nato accession remains off the table. Instead, Western leaders are exploring 'Article 5-style' security guarantees to protect Kyiv without triggering a direct clash with Russia European Parliament President Roberta Metsola holds an EU flag with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the European Parliament during an address in Brussels, Belgium, February 9, 2023. File Image/European Union via Reuters While Ukraine's path toward joining the European Union (EU) is slowly advancing, albeit with major obstacles, its entry into Nato remains blocked. Instead, Western leaders are exploring 'Article 5-style' security guarantees that might shield Ukraine from future Russian aggression without granting it formal membership in the transatlantic alliance. On Monday, United States President Donald Trump made a direct appeal to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after lengthy discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a group of European leaders in Washington. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The talks, held at the White House, centred on finding a unified strategy to push forward both peace negotiations with Russia and Ukraine's integration with Europe. Individuals familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that Trump was urged by European counterparts to use his personal influence over Orbán, a figure often at odds with the EU, to convince him to drop his opposition to Ukraine's EU membership talks. Hungary has been one of the most significant obstacles to Kyiv's European aspirations, having blocked the start of formal accession negotiations despite overwhelming support from other EU states. Orbán, who has built a reputation as one of the EU's most defiant leaders, responded by doubling down on his objections. He wrote on Facebook: 'Ukraine's membership in the European Union does not provide any security guarantees. Therefore linking membership with security guarantees is unnecessary and dangerous.' The Hungarian leader has frequently aligned himself with Russia on sanctions and aid issues, providing Moscow with diplomatic cover inside the EU. The Trump-Orbán call came only days after Trump's own meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump suggested he wanted to facilitate a direct summit between Putin and Zelenskyy, followed by a trilateral meeting that he himself would attend. No location or timetable for such an encounter has been set, though Hungary has expressed willingness to host. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Ukraine may join EU Ukraine's pursuit of EU membership began in the immediate aftermath of the invasion. On February 28, 2022, just four days after Russian forces crossed its borders, Zelenskyy signed the formal application. The urgency reflected Kyiv's desire to cement its place in the European family and to seek long-term protection against Moscow's ambitions. Eight EU member states quickly backed a fast-track procedure, though European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made clear that the accession process would still take time. Within weeks, the EU institutions moved ahead. On March 10, 2022, the Council of the European Union requested the Commission's opinion on the application. A legislative questionnaire was handed to Ukraine on April 8, with responses submitted on May 9. On June 17, 2022, the Commission recommended granting Ukraine candidate status, and six days later, the European Parliament overwhelmingly supported the move. On June 23, 2022, the European Council formally declared Ukraine a candidate for membership. The decision placed Kyiv among nine active candidate states, alongside Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey. Negotiations began in earnest on June 25, 2024, when the Council opened accession talks with both Ukraine and Moldova. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission's President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, Finland's President Alexander Stubb and NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte, at the White House Library, in Washington, DC, US, August 18, 2025. Image/Ukrainian Presidential Press Service The step was hailed as another milestone in Ukraine's reorientation toward Western institutions, comparable to the integration of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania two decades earlier in 2004. However, progress has not been straightforward. In June this year, Hungary blocked the official opening of talks, citing fears of 'integrating war' into the EU. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also expressed doubts that Ukraine could complete the process by 2034, underscoring the long road ahead. Reforms inside Ukraine have also posed challenges. In July, parliament passed a law undermining the independence of anti-corruption institutions, a critical demand of Brussels. The European Commission quickly warned of consequences. Hours later, Zelenskyy annulled the decision and restored the independence of the agencies, declaring that the measure 'guarantees the absence of any kind of outside influence (or) interference.' Despite these hurdles, Ukraine remains firmly on the EU track. Accession, if completed, would place another former Soviet republic inside the bloc. Why Nato remains out of Ukraine's reach In contrast to its EU bid, Ukraine's chances of joining Nato remain slim for now. At the White House meeting on Monday, Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte made clear that the alliance was not discussing membership but rather a separate framework of commitments. 'The situation is this – that the US and some other countries have said that they are against Nato membership for Ukraine. The official Nato position … is that there is an irreversible path for Ukraine into Nato,' he explained. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'But what we are discussing here is not Nato membership, what we are discussing here is Article 5 type of security guarantees for Ukraine and what exactly they will entail will now be more specifically discussed.' The remarks reflect a long-standing dilemma. Article 5 of Nato's founding treaty, signed in 1949, binds members to treat an attack on one as an attack on all. It has only been formally invoked once, after the September 11 attacks in 2001. While the principle of collective defence is at the core of Nato's deterrence, it also raises the risk of direct confrontation with Russia, a nuclear power, should Ukraine become a member. Therefore, the focus has shifted toward designing alternative security guarantees. What 'Article 5-like' protections could mean for Ukraine Western leaders have increasingly referred to 'Article 5-style' or 'Article 5-like' protections for Ukraine. The phrase suggests a collective defence mechanism modelled on Nato's clause but without formally making Kyiv a member. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff described the concept in an interview with CNN on August 17, calling it a 'game-changing' assurance. He noted that the idea had been discussed at the Alaska summit between Trump and Putin, and claimed that Moscow would not object to such a framework as part of a broader peace deal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Unlike Nato's integrated military command, this arrangement would be a bespoke pact among willing nations, defining the obligations in the event of a renewed Russian offensive. The text of such guarantees would be crucial: who would commit troops or resources, under what circumstances, and with what speed. Without clear provisions, critics fear the agreement could lack credibility. Scepticism is widespread, particularly in Ukraine, which still recalls the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. Under that agreement, Ukraine gave up its inherited Soviet nuclear arsenal in exchange for assurances of territorial integrity from Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski summed up the doubts bluntly, writing on X: 'On 22 April 2004 Vladimir Putin solemnly ratified the Treaty on the Russian-Ukrainian Border. Suffice to respect them and the war is over.' Still, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen endorsed the concept, pointing out deterrence. 'As I have often said, Ukraine must become a steel porcupine, undigestible for potential invaders,' she declared. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nato currently has 32 members, with The US and other major Nato states believe extending Article 5 to Kyiv now would effectively mean joining Ukraine's war, something they are unwilling to do. Such special security guarantees for Ukraine raise a couple of questions: If guarantees are strong enough to deter Russia, why would Moscow accept them? Yet if they are watered down to secure Russian agreement, will they deter anyone at all? With inputs from agencies
