Latest news with #ÉricDucharme
Montreal Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- Montreal Gazette
UPAC searches Quebec auto insurance board in connection with SAAQclic scandal
By La Presse Canadienne Quebec anticorruption police searched the headquarters of the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec on Wednesday in connection with the SAAQclic scandal. 'We can confirm today that we are conducting a search in the SAAQclic case. We will not be giving any details about this in order to protect our investigation,' the Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC) said in a statement to Presse Canadienne. 'Generally speaking, a search in a fraud or corruption investigation is used to obtain evidence that will allow us to confirm or deny the commission of wrongdoing. The seized documents must then be analyzed and may then require witness interviews.' Premier François Legault said Wednesday the situation at the SAAQ and recent testimony at the Gallant Commission investigating the SAAQclic scandal is 'worrying.' The premier continued to refuse to reiterate his confidence in SAAQ CEO Éric Ducharme. 'I think we have to wait for the final report,' Legault said. 'He hasn't given his testimony yet, so let's let him explain. What's important is to get to the bottom of things.' In a statement, the SAAQ said it is 'fully co-operating with the ongoing investigation and will not comment further in order to respect the work of the authorities and preserve the integrity of the process.' UPAC's search came as former SAAQ CEO Denis Marsolais testified before the Gallant Commission. UPAC has been investigating SAAQclic since February. The pressure is mounting on Ducharme because of testimony before the Gallant Commission. In an open letter published in Le Soleil on Wednesday, he wrote: 'The investigation conducted by the Commission of Inquiry into the management of the modernization of the SAAQ's IT systems is a necessary step to provide a comprehensive assessment of our digital transition and its impact on our customers and partners. We reiterate our commitment to working with this body to complete the process and shed full light on past events.' Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault indicated that she had written to UPAC twice. 'I wanted to make them aware of the scandalous nature of everything that was being said and everything that appears to have happened at the SAAQ,' she said Wednesday. 'This morning, I see that they are operating at the SAAQ headquarters. So, seeing institutions doing their job is always reassuring.' This story was originally published June 18, 2025 at 11:06 AM.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
SAAQ CEO Éric Ducharme's testimony will not be heard, Gallant rules
Commissioner Denis Gallant presides over a special inquiry into the causes and circumstances underlying the problems with managing and implementing the CASA program for the Societe d'Assurance automobile du Quebec, in Quebec City on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press) Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) CEO Éric Ducharme's testimony will not be heard before the Gallant Commission. On Tuesday, Commissioner Denis Gallant rejected the SAAQ's request that Ducharme be allowed to quickly give his version of events. The day before, former auditor Marie-Line Lalonde testified that Ducharme had very little interest in internal auditing, even after the SAAQclic scandal. The lawyer representing the SAAQ, Sébastien Laprise, argued on Monday that Lalonde's statements had the potential to undermine public confidence in the Crown corporation. However, Gallant ruled on Tuesday that it was not 'appropriate' to grant the SAAQ's request, since it already has party status on the commission. He pointed out that its lawyers will have ample opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses. The commissioner confirmed that Ducharme will be heard when proceedings resume after the summer break. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 17, 2025.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Current SAAQ CEO Ducharme criticized once again at Gallant commission
Commissioner Denis Gallant, centre back, presides over an inquiry into the causes and circumstances underlying the problems with managing and implementing the CASA program for the Societe d'Assurance automobile du Quebec, in Quebec City on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press) In 2024, three auditors from Quebec's auto insurance board - the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) - resigned, disappointed by CEO Éric Ducharme's lack of interest in their work. 'It was like being spat on,' said former auditor Marie-Line Lalonde on Monday during her testimony before the Gallant Commission, which is tasked with uncovering the truth behind the SAAQclic fiasco. Lalonde explained that her department had to wait nine months before getting a meeting with Ducharme, who was appointed in 2023 by the Legault government to turn around the situation at the SAAQ. During that meeting, which finally took place in January 2024, the new CEO was 'sitting in his chair with his arms crossed,' Lalonde recalled. 'It was a very cold approach. (...) If he could have gotten up and left, he would have. (...) We told him that we were working for him, that we were there to help him,' she said. 'It was as if he was saying, 'I don't want your work.'' Ducharme no longer wanted the internal audit to 'rock the boat,' but in auditing, 'the goal is not to get along with the sectors,' it is to be factual, according to the chartered professional accountant. She and her team were 'really disappointed' after the meeting with Ducharme, so much so that they decided it was probably time for them to 'update their CVs.' Three of them left the SAAQ at the same time in early 2024. Former auditor Vincent Poirier testified on May 29 that Ducharme did not 'want' a report detailing the IT problems discovered following the failed launch of SAAQclic. During his end-of-session review on June 6, Premier François Legault refused to reiterate his confidence in Ducharme. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 16, 2025.
