Quebec's auto insurance board closes Montreal service point over alleged corruption

Quebec's automobile insurance board (SAAQ) abruptly closed its Montréal-Nord service point on Tuesday following an administrative investigation into corruption allegations.

The service point, located on Léger Boulevard, was managed by a representative of the local chamber of commerce, the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Montréal-Nord (CCIMN).

In 2023, customers raised concerns about certain employees engaging in behavior suggestive of financial corruption.

"Our administrative investigation service decided to examine the validity of these claims," said SAAQ spokesperson Gino Desrosiers.

When the investigation revealed serious issues, a formal complaint was lodged with Quebec's anti-corruption unit, the Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC).

"The matter was significant, involving more than one individual," Desrosiers added.

As a result of the findings, SAAQ management determined that the trust between the CCIMN and the SAAQ had been irreparably damaged.

"Therefore, we terminated the business relationship," Desrosiers confirmed, emphasizing that the allegations did not involve any breach of personal data.

"At no point was the confidentiality or integrity of client information compromised. This concerns other types of behavior warranting UPAC's involvement," he explained.

The service point, which assisted up to 300 clients daily, has been permanently shut down. According to Radio-Canada, this decision is final and cannot be appealed.

UPAC spokesperson Mathieu Vidal confirmed receipt of a complaint from the SAAQ and said that UPAC is currently evaluating the situation. This assessment may lead to an investigation and possible charges.

In response, the CCIMN issued a written statement on Tuesday afternoon expressing surprise at the closure. The organization stated it is working closely with the SAAQ to clarify the situation and asserted that it is not involved in the alleged corruption.