Latest news with #AlainFortin
CBC
22-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Half of Quebecers don't have first responder services in their communities, report says
A new auditor general report has found that about half of Quebec's population lives in communities with no first responder service, despite numerous calls over the years to improve access to potentially life-saving first aid. Alain Fortin, Quebec's interim auditor general, noted that first responders, who can include firefighters and other people with first aid training, are usually first on the scene to provide basic care until paramedics and ambulances arrive. His report published Thursday noted that 45 per cent of very urgent calls in municipalities without first responders have an ambulance response time of more than 10 minutes. "However, it has been shown that a rapid response to very urgent calls can reduce deaths, and reduce the length and cost of hospitalization, as well as the risks of long-term effects," he told reporters in Quebec City. The need for first responders is greatest in rural communities, Fortin said, where there are fewer ambulances compared to urban centres, and where the size of the territory can delay response times. The report noted that studies have found that the chances of survival for a person in cardiorespiratory arrest drop sharply every minute they have to wait for care. "After 10 minutes, the chances of survival are almost zero," the report noted. A government-mandated committee recommended in 2014 that the province take steps to ensure first responders are available across the territory. But Fortin's report says that despite that recommendation, the number of communities with first responder service has remained "stable." As of September 2024, 70 per cent of communities were without such a service. Earlier this month, a Quebec coroner pointed to a lack of first responders in the death of a 37-year-old man from hypovolemic shock and blood loss, which occurred after he cut himself on a glass door in Rivière-à-Pierre, Que., a rural community northwest of Quebec City. "Rivière-à-Pierre does not have a first responder service, a solution which could have allowed [the deceased] to receive care more quickly," coroner Audray Tondreau wrote. 'If you get sick good luck,' opposition says The government's pre-hospital care plan includes the objective of increasing the percentage of the population who have access to first responders from 50 to 80 per cent by 2028. But, as of the winter, a committee made up of the Health Ministry, Santé Quebec and the province's union of municipalities had not reached an agreement on how to finance such services. Fortin's report also noted that ambulances have to spend close to 50 minutes on average waiting at the emergency room for their patients to be admitted and preparing their vehicles to return to service. The report suggested the government find ways to expand other forms of medical transport in order to free up ambulances for the most urgent cases. In response to Thursday's report, opposition parties in the legislature were quick to accuse Premier François Legault's government of failing to act to improve care. The lack of services for Quebecers "has been going on for years," said Québec Solidaire member Vincent Marissal. "It doesn't interest the government." He described the government action plan to increase first responder access to 80 per cent as a "failure all down the line," especially for people living in rural areas. "If you get sick good luck. That's what we're telling people," he said. Legault told the legislature that ambulance service in the province was "heading in the right direction," and noted that the amount of time ambulances spend waiting at the hospital has decreased. "But we understand and Quebecers can understand that with the size of territory to cover, we can't have an ambulance on every street corner in Quebec," he said.
Global News
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Global News
Quebec's failed SAAQclic project could cost $500M, inquiry hears
A public inquiry examining a failed digital shift by Quebec's automobile insurance board heard Monday it could end up costing the province nearly half a billion dollars more than initially planned. Alain Fortin, Quebec's interim auditor general, testified that cost overruns could mean the final tally for the so-called SAAQclic project will come in at $1.1 billion by 2027, nearly $500 million more than was budgeted. The project was expected to cost $638 million over 10 years when launched in 2017. Fortin noted that the board no longer tracks operating costs, and the assumption by the auditor was that operating costs would be at least what was initially budgeted in 2017. The projected total includes costs for services that are already implemented and others that haven't been completed. However, several phases are on hold without firm deadlines for completion. 'The $1.1 billion includes future costs, actual costs, all costs combined. It could be more …. If they want to get what they wanted at the beginning, it could be more,' Mr. Fortin told the inquiry. Story continues below advertisement Earlier this month, Premier François Legault questioned the auditor general's calculations at the national assembly, arguing that 'the cost of the program' and 'the cost of maintenance' should be calculated separately. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Fortin insisted that it was necessary to 'compare apples with apples.' He noted that the board no longer tracks operating costs and the auditor general report estimated the operation cost will come to at least what was initially budgeted in 2017. The digital transformation was supposed to provide a one-stop platform for renewing licences, scheduling driving tests and performing other tasks without needing an in-person meeting. It ended up creating headaches for the provincial government in 2023 as frustrated citizens were stuck waiting in massive lineups at branches attempting to get services that should have been available online. Much of Fortin's testimony was based on the auditor's report published in February 2025, which found SAAQclic was a failure and the board, the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec, blew through its budgets with little to show. Some of the problems were known in 2022 before the system became operational, but management claimed the system was proceeding according to plan. 'In fact, the implementation of the new computer system caused significant problems and has not yet generated the expected benefits,' the auditor general wrote. 'Two years after its implementation, problems persist.' Story continues below advertisement The inquiry, headed by Denis Gallant, a Montreal municipal court judge, must submit its report by Sept. 30. After the auditor's report, Éric Caire was forced to resign as minister of cybersecurity and digital technology. Legault's government established the public inquiry to shed light on what went wrong with the implementation of the software for the board.
Winnipeg Free Press
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
Quebec's failed auto insurance digital shift could cost $500M, inquiry hears
MONTREAL – A public inquiry examining a digital shift by Quebec's automobile insurance board is hearing it could end up costing the province nearly half-a-billion dollars, more than initially planned. Alain Fortin, Quebec's interim auditor general, testified today that cost overruns could mean the final tally for the so-called SAAQclic project will come in at $1.1 billion by 2027. Fortin told the inquiry today the bill could be even higher if the province aims to get all the services it wanted in the beginning. The failed digital transformation, an estimated $500-million over budget, was supposed to provide a one-stop platform for renewing licences, scheduling driving tests and performing other tasks without needing an in-person meeting. But the system has not worked properly and Premier François Legault's government established a public inquiry commission to shed light on what went wrong. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. The commission of inquiry, headed by Montreal municipal court Judge Denis Gallant, must submit its report by Sept. 30. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2025.
Toronto Star
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Toronto Star
Quebec's failed auto insurance digital shift could cost $500M, inquiry hears
MONTREAL - A public inquiry examining a digital shift by Quebec's automobile insurance board is hearing it could end up costing the province nearly half-a-billion dollars, more than initially planned. Alain Fortin, Quebec's interim auditor general, testified today that cost overruns could mean the final tally for the so-called SAAQclic project will come in at $1.1 billion by 2027. Fortin told the inquiry today the bill could be even higher if the province aims to get all the services it wanted in the beginning. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The failed digital transformation, an estimated $500-million over budget, was supposed to provide a one-stop platform for renewing licences, scheduling driving tests and performing other tasks without needing an in-person meeting. But the system has not worked properly and Premier François Legault's government established a public inquiry commission to shed light on what went wrong. The commission of inquiry, headed by Montreal municipal court Judge Denis Gallant, must submit its report by Sept. 30. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2025.
