Bonnardel proves to be more enlightened, Guilbault appears overlooked in comparison to SAAQclic's insights
In a jaw-dropping revelation, the ex-Transportation Minister, François Bonnardel, was well aware of the excessive SAAQclic expenses as early as 2021, according to Konrad Sioui, the ex-president of the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ)'s board of directors.
Sioui, who helmed the SAAQ board from 2021 to 2025, spilled the beans during a testimony before the Gallant Commission, probing the digital transformation of the crown corporation. He stated unequivocally that Bonnardel had indeed known about the eye-watering cost overruns in September 2021. Contrary to his previous claims, the minister also became privy to the addition of $222 million to the project in 2022.
Sioui alleges that Bonnardel and his cronies were privy to the exploding budget. "They were more ripped up about it. They were questioning it more," he admitted.
Bonnardel's version has now been thrown into doubt. On February 20, 2022, he declared that the SAAQ had "veiled" a $682 million figure without any additional cost overrun compared to the contract in a press conference. He reiterated similar claims on February 26. "There was no cost overrun, none at all! How am I supposed to defend myself against lies?" he exclaimed, adopting an exaggerated tone.
An open secret!
The unchecked cost overrun was so widely known in 2022 that it was an "open secret," according to the prosecutor, Simon Tremblay. The injection of $222 million sparked intense discussions at the board, Sioui revealed.
During the election campaign, the addition of these sums slipped under the radar since the contracts didn't appear in the public tendering system. The breaking down of costs was just briefly touched upon during the morning session.
Sioui claimed that he wasn't protecting the ruling party but was merely exercising caution, wishing to better monitor the contracts because the board was experiencing a loss of faith.
The link cut by Guilbault
Sioui also shed light on his strained relations with Minister Bonnardel and his gang. However, he had no interaction with Minister Geneviève Guilbault, who replaced Bonnardel in 2022. "It was severed," he said about his links with Guilbault.
Sioui claimed that the board had requested numerous meetings with the minister, but she had never been willing to oblige. In the fall, when Guilbault took over, the administrators were extremely concerned about the direction the digital transformation of the SAAQ was heading. Consequently, they held extraordinary board meetings to discuss the subject extensively.
Sioui added that Guilbault finally reached out to him at the beginning of 2023 amidst the SAAQ offices being swamped with long lines. "Then she rolled up her sleeves, and we got down to it," he described.
Sioui also spoke about a meeting in September 2021, where Bonnardel had expressed concern about the SAAQ's digital transformation project and requested a monthly update. "His expression when he asked for that was grim," emphasized Sioui.
Throughout his testimony, Sioui asserted that it was not the CA's role to meddle with SAAQ operations. He felt that the CA was getting the short end of the stick due to the chaotic rollout of SAAQclic. In March 2023, the CA members decided to resign massively, he said. However, neither the Prime Minister nor the CA members tendered their resignations, Sioui added without providing further details.
The CAQ imposed a CEO with no digital expertise
Sioui also alleged that the Legault government appointed Denis Marsolais, who had no digital expertise, as the SAAQ's head despite his lack of expertise. "Politics can be too heavy-handed," he sighed. A selection committee, of which he was a part, had selected three candidates. Marsolais was not one of them.
Following his appointment in January 2022, Sioui wished that the politicians would "let us do our job." Result: "In the critical phase of the project, Denis Marsolais doesn't have both hands on the wheel?" Judge Denis Gallant asked. "Not at all," Sioui answered. "Only Mr. Malenfant remains," he added, referring to the man in charge of driving the SAAQ's digital transformation.
A former SAAQ board member, François Geoffrion, also criticized the lack of experience of Marsolais during testimony on April 2023, following Marsolais' dismissal amidst the SAAQclic scandal.
The unchecked cost overrun of the SAAQclic project was not only a topic of interest for politicians but also a general news point in 2022, due to the addition of $222 million that sparked intense discussions at the board.
The strained relationship between Sioui and Bonnardel was further exacerbated as Bonnardel, the former Transportation Minister, was aware of the excessive SAAQclic expenses and yet, publicly denied any cost overruns. Furthermore, Sioui alleged that the CAQ government appointed a CEO, Denis Marsolais, with no digital expertise to head the SAAQ.
