Quebec Minister Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology Eric Caire speaks at a news conference on artificial intelligence, in Quebec City, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Quebec Minister Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology Eric Caire speaks at a news conference on artificial intelligence, in Quebec City, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
MONTRÉAL - Quebec's former minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology has told a public inquiry he knew the provincial auto insurance board's digital transition project was over budget in 2021.
Éric Caire made the comments while testifying before the Gallant Commission, which is investigating how the creation of the auto board's online platform ended up more than $500 million over budget.Â
He was asked to explain an email exchange from September 2021 with his chief of staff, in which Caire expressed doubt that a lack of human resources could fully explain the troubles with the IT project known as CASA.
He told the commission that he knew there were cost overruns but he was unaware of the extent of them.
Caire stepped down as minister in February after an explosive report by the province’s auditor general revealed cost overruns of at least $500 million in the creation of the online platform, for a total cost of more than $1.1 billion.
Premier François Legault is expected to testify at the inquiry next week.Â
This report by °µÍø½ûÇø was first published Aug. 27, 2025.Â
