Cape Breton man retires from nearly 40-year restoration career
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CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Quebec's former transport minister says he was kept in the dark about SAAQclic cost overrun
Nearly four months since the start of the public inquiry into the failed rollout of SAAQclic, Quebec's former transport minister told the Gallant commission on Thursday that he was kept out of the loop regarding several details about the platform, including its actual cost. François Bonnardel explained that he never thought the budget would be exceeded and wasn't aware of the overspending. He stressed that the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) did not clearly explain to him the different phases of the project, including its anticipated rollout. Bonnardel, who is Quebec's public security minister, served as transport minister between 2018 and 2022 — pivotal years for the CASA project, which is the SAAQ's IT modernization initiative that included the SAAQclic platform. Initially, SAAQclic was expected to cost $458 million, and Bonnardel told the commission he believed that to be the total cost of the project. But he says he found out in February 2021 that the cost at the time had exceeded $600 million. "It's quite unusual," said Bonnardel, who told the inquiry he had requested a meeting with senior SAAQ officials immediately. "I want to know where this figure of $620 or $630 [million] comes from." Véronik Aubry, who headed Bonnardel's office between 2018 and 2021, said in her testimony Wednesday that she found out about delays and potential cost overruns in 2020. She said she relayed that information to Premier François Legault's political adviser. The February 2023 launch of the SAAQclic online platform faced a series of major failures and sparked a customer service crisis. It was intended to centralize most of the services from the province's automobile insurance board. These problems were highlighted in a scathing report by the auditor general in February 2025 who found that the true cost is now likely to climb over $1.1 billion. "For me, every $100,000 that is overspent must be defended and explained," Bonnardel told the commission, saying he always insisted on fiscal responsibility and spending control in his role. The public inquiry — presided over by Denis Gallant and known as the Gallant commission — began on April 24. 'Transparency is non-negotiable,' says Bonnardel In his testimony, he described himself as a "corridor man" who knocks on his staff's office doors to ask them questions about different files and their progress. "For me, transparency is non-negotiable," said Bonnardel. He spoke of the impression he initially had of former SAAQ CEO Nathalie Tremblay, highlighting how "reassuring" she was regarding the delivery and the progress of the project and how he fully trusted her. According to some testimonies heard during the commission in recent days, Tremblay allegedly glossed over conflicts between the SAAQ and its suppliers, which would ultimately drive up the project's costs. Véronik Aubry, who headed Bonnardel's office between 2018 and 2021, said in her testimony Wednesday that she found out about delays and potential cost overruns in 2020, despite being reassured by Tremblay. Bonnardel also pointed the finger at the former provincial Liberal government, which he said had not provided him all the information about the CASA project, including its problems. "What I take away from the last few weeks is that the previous administration knew that the project would cost $600 million. I didn't know that," said Bonnardel. Bonnardel's testimony will continue on Friday and current Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault is also expected to face questioning. The inquiry's report is due by Sept. 30.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Lockout at Titan Tool and Die escalates
Unifor says a lockout of workers at Titan Tool and Die in Windsor has escalated. It said the company removed the last remaining raw materials from the plant on Howard Avenue on Thursday. The move comes after 25 union members were locked out by the company on Aug. 11. In a release, Unifor said representatives for Local 195 witnessed the removal and believe the materials are being moved to the U.S. as production is being relocated across the border amid U.S. tariffs. 'This company is trying to pull a fast one on our members, our union and the entire Windsor community, hiding the betrayal of its workforce behind the smokescreen of a lockout,' said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 'First, they emptied the plant, then they locked out our members, and now they're loading up the last of the raw material. Titan Tool and Die's owner knows if Canadians knew what they're up to; the outrage would be fierce.' Unifor Local 195 President Emile Nabbout represents 50 members, but the majority were on lay off before the lockout. In March, unionized workers spent the day blocking a transport truck from taking equipment out of the facility. 'What cuts the deepest is not the fact that Titan locked our members out, or the trucks removing the last of plant's raw materials, it's that Titan refuses to look our members in the eyes and admit what they're doing,' said Local 195 President Emile Nabbout. 'They've fed off the skill and loyalty of our members for decades, and now they think they can just suck this place dry and move on. Our members see through the lies, and we're not about to let this company drain the life out of Windsor on its way across the border.' The last collective agreement expired on July 31 and Unifor said Titan Tool and Die was looking for major concessions at the bargaining table. Unifor said it wants the company to come clean about its plans for the future of the Windsor plant, immediately resume negotiations and bargain a fair deal for workers that secures jobs and production in Canada. - Written by Kathie McMann/AM800 News.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Ontario college support staff take step toward strike with ‘no board' request
The union that represents thousands of full-time support staff at Ontario's colleges has taken a step toward a possible strike. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says it has requested a 'no board' report, and once issued by the province's labour ministry it would set a 16-day countdown to a legal strike position. The union says there is no strike date at this time, but it would put them in a position to withdraw services for the fall semester. Members voted earlier this month 77.3 per cent in favour of authorizing a strike, if necessary. The College Employer Council, the bargaining agent for the province's publicly funded colleges, has said the union's demands would expose colleges to more than $900 million in additional costs. OPSEU has proposed a moratorium on campus closures and preventing further layoffs, as the sector has seen closures and what the union describes as thousands of job losses due to a funding crisis.
