Public inquiry into SAAQclic debacle begins today. Here’s a recap of how we got here [Video]

A public inquiry into the disastrous rollout of Quebec’s automobile insurance board’s online platform — SAAQclic — is beginning today. 

Since its launch in 2023, SAAQclic has been plagued by a string of failures, including a rocky launch that led to a customer service crisis and a $500-million cost overrun, revealed recently in a scathing report by the auditor general. 

The inquiry is aiming to shed light on who is responsible for the fiasco. But even the inquiry itself is mired in controversy, with questions swirling about the impartiality of those leading it.

Here’s a breakdown of how we got here. 

Start of the SAAQclic saga

In February 2023, the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) debuted its online portal, centralizing most of its services into a single platform.

However, the launch didn’t go as expected. 

People across the province had trouble accessing the platform, and for weeks, frustrated drivers could be seen lining up in the cold outside the SAAQ’s offices as …