A cost overrun scandal involving the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government's information technology project at Santé Québec is escalating just before two leaders’ debates. The original budget of around $96 million for the project has reportedly increased to approximately $1 billion, drawing comparisons to the SAAQclic scandal which also incurred high costs. Opposition party leaders are criticizing CAQ’s handling of the situation and accusing Prime Minister Christine Fréchette of ignoring warning signs. Quebec’s Minister responsible for Government Administration, France-Élaine Duranceau, countered that the actual approved cost is $329.4 million, while opposition parties argue that transparency is lacking.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-15,
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same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A major cost overrun controversy has hit the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government just days before crucial televised leaders’ debates. The project at Santé Québec was initially budgeted at about $96 million but now faces a projected cost of roughly $1 billion, according to a Radio-Canada report. This scandal echoes past issues like the SAAQclic fiasco, which also overran its initial costs by more than $1 billion and involved significant taxpayer losses.
Opposition parties, including the Liberals led by Charles Milliard, are criticizing Minister Christine Fréchette for allegedly ignoring warning signs about the project. Monsef Derraji of the Liberal Party in Nelligan accused Fréchette of dismissing a KPMG report that raised concerns about the project's costs.
In response, Transportation and IT Minister Nadine Duranceau defended the initiative, arguing it will generate $1.2 billion in savings and criticizing opposition parties for oversimplifying the issue. She explained on social media that the higher figure is based on erroneous assumptions and that canceling the project would result in losing already invested money, paying penalties for contract breaches, and failing to obtain a modernized system.
Written for “Quebec Politics Scandal” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
A major new cost overrun controversy is plaguing the Coalition Avenir Québec campaign just days before two crucial televised leaders’ debates.
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controversy → plague → debates
The CAQ government led by Christine Fréchette is under fire following a Radio-Canada report that says the cost of an information technology project at Santé Québec has ballooned from an initial budget of about $96 million to roughly $1 billion.
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cost → lead → billion
Opposition parties seized on the report Monday, comparing it to the SAAQclic scandal, the digital transformation project at the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) that ended up costing taxpayers more than $1 billion.
“I think it’s a total disgrace what we’ve heard,” Liberal Leader Charles Milliard told reporters Monday.
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Milliard → seize → reporters
Québec solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal said Quebecers are once again witnessing “other SAAQclic fiascos.”
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Quebecers → say → fiascos
The Liberals accused Fréchette, who previously served as Treasury Board president, of ignoring warning signs about the project.
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who → accuse → project
“She received the KPMG report and she put it in the garbage and she signed for another amount.
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she → receive → amount
So she’s responsible,” said Monsef Derraji, the Liberal candidate in Nelligan.
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Derraji → ’ → Nelligan
Conservative Leader Eric Duhaime also drew parallels to the SAAQclic controversy.
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Duhaime → draw → controversy
“Another SAAQclic fiasco, in fact it’s worse,” Duhaime said.
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Duhaime → ’ → fact
France-Élaine Duranceau, Quebec’s Minister responsible for Government Administration and State Efficiency, President of the Treasury Board, and Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology pushed back against the criticism Monday, arguing that the reported $1-billion figure does not reflect the actual approved cost of the project.
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figure → push → project
In a statement posted on social media, Duranceau said the project approved by cabinet carries a budget of $329.4 million and described the higher figure as a projection based on what she called “erroneous working assumptions.”
Duranceau said the government chose to continue the project rather than cancel it, which she argued would have meant losing money already invested, paying penalties for breaking contracts and failing to obtain a modernized system.
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The minister also defended the initiative, saying it is expected to generate $1.2 billion in savings and accusing opposition parties of oversimplifying the issue.
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it → post → issue
Milliard accused the CAQ government of withholding information from the public.
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Milliard → accuse → public
“They’ve been hiding information,” he said.
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he → hide → information
Fréchette was absent from the campaign trail Monday as she prepared for what could prove to be a pivotal week in the election campaign.
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what → prepare → campaign
The leaders of Quebec’s five major parties are set to face off in two French-language televised debates, events widely viewed as potential turning points in the race.
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leaders → set → race
Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon also kept a low profile Monday, making no major announcements as he focused on debate preparations.
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he → keep → preparations
Meanwhile, three new polls released Monday all placed the PQ in first place.
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polls → release → place
However, the surveys suggested the party’s support has stabilized rather than continued to grow.
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support → suggest → ?
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Owner → call → invention
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The polls showed the Liberals and the CAQ locked in a close battle for second place.
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Liberals → lead → place
After benefiting politically from concerns surrounding the trade conflict with U.S. President Donald Trump, Fréchette appears to have lost some momentum in recent weeks.
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Fréchette → benefit → weeks
At the same time, Milliard continues to face challenges expanding support among francophone voters.
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Milliard → continue → voters
What matters is getting our program known,” Milliard said.
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Milliard → matter → ?
The Liberal leader acknowledged the importance of the upcoming debates.
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leader → acknowledge → debates
“The three national upcoming debates will be the perfect occasion for Quebecers to compare what we have in our hearts,” he said.
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he → compare → hearts
The Conservative Party remains firmly in fourth place ahead of Québec solidaire, according to recent polling.
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Party → remain → polling
On Monday, the Conservatives unveiled a proposal to reduce access to certain social benefits for immigrants.
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Conservatives → unveil → immigrants
“We are the only ones focusing on economic issues and saying that those who come here to abuse the system are not welcome,” Duhaime said.
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Duhaime → focus → system
The first leaders’ debate will take place Tuesday evening on TVA in a “face-à-face” format that will see leaders engage in rotating one-on-one exchanges with their opponents.
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leaders → take → opponents
A second debate involving all five major party leaders is scheduled for Wednesday on Noovo.
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debate → involve → Noovo
There will be no English-language leaders’ debate during the campaign after both the CAQ and the PQ declined to participate.
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CAQ → decline → campaign
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