CAQ under pressure over new cost overrun controversy

The Coalition Avenir Québec is facing fresh criticism after a RadioCanada report said the cost of an IT project linked to Santé Québec may have risen from about $96 million to roughly $1 billion. Opposition leaders used the report to attack the government on Monday, drawing comparisons to the SAAQclic scandal, another Quebec digital project that ended up costing more than $1 billion. Liberal Leader Charles Milliard and Québec solidaire spokesperson Ruba Ghazal both accused the government of poor oversight and withheld information. Quebec officials rejected the $1billion figure, saying the project approved by cabinet was budgeted at $329.4 million and that the larger estimate was based on incorrect assumptions. FranceÉlaine Duranceau said the government continued the project because canceling it would have meant losing money already spent and paying penalties. The controversy comes just before two televised leaders’ debates this week, a key moment in the Quebec election campaign. Polls released Monday showed the Parti Québécois still leading, while the Liberals and CAQ remained close in the race for second place.