Trying to recover from the SAAQclic fiasco, Société de l'assurance automobiles du Québec (SAAQ) was forced to leave nearly a hundred positions vacant due to a hiring freeze imposed by the Treasury Board.
Our Parliamentary Office was able to confirm the information originally published by Radio-Canada.
A year ago, “The Treasury Board Secretariat introduced a hiring freeze to allow ministries and organizations to achieve their approved staffing targets,” explained SAAQ spokesman Simon-Pierre Poulain.
“Consequently, several departments and agencies, including the Corporation, must optimize the use of resources and begin hiring. This will affect about a hundred positions.”
SAAQ defends its choice and says the “strategy is focused on maintaining customer service and operational capabilities.”
SAAQ has more than 4,800 jobs.
The hiring freeze affects three categories: “non-renewal of expiring temporary contracts, termination of temporary employment before the expiration of the contract.” […] and attrition due to the lack of replacement for some of those who left.”
However, remember that for several years SAAQ has far exceeded the full-time employee (FTE) targets required by the Treasury Board.
Due to digital transformation, the Company has overused the number of authorized ETCs. At the time, the government was already calling for staff reductions.
According to the Union of public and para-public services of Quebec (SFPQ), these cuts will nevertheless have an impact on services to the public.
“We are talking about the people who serve you in service centres, on the telephone or who look after your compensation as a road accident victim. The Legault government's shock appeal is damaging public services. It is also a terrible human tragedy for people who are losing their jobs. The CAQ's austerity measures have not stopped causing suffering,” said Michel Girard, Vice President of SFPQ.
Premier François Legault has instructed new Treasury chair France-Hélène Duranceau to apply “shock therapy” to Quebec's civil service. Several announcements of layoffs and job cuts have already been made, particularly at the Department of Transport.
