Quebec's SIFA health IT project balloon to $1 billion from $96 million estimate

A major Quebec health IT project has ballooned to an estimated $1 billion from an initial $96 million projection—a $900 million cost overrun that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties and healthcare advocates.

Radio-Canada's report revealed that the Fréchette government ignored analysis from Quebec's own Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Technology, along with consultants KPMG and MNP, which warned the SIFA project could reach $1 billion. SIFA (Santé Québec IT project) is a major digital transformation of the province's health network administrative systems.

Quebec Liberal Leader Charles Milliard called the decision indefensible. "It makes no sense. This is 100 per cent Mrs. Fréchette's decision," Milliard said Monday on the campaign trail, adding that the government "went again and again, like they did with SAAQclic, against advice or recommendations that they actually paid" for.

Éric Duhaime, leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec, drew a direct comparison to SAAQclic, another failed IT project. "In fact, what is happening now is even worse than SAAQclic. SAAQclic involved a $600 million cost overrun. Here, we are talking about an overrun of $900 million," Duhaime said.

Paul Brunet, Chair of the Council for Protection of Patients, described the ballooning costs as "something catastrophic." He pointed out that the province is cutting services elsewhere: "We have problems having access to home care, to a CHSLD. In hospitals also, we have problems of better service, better care. We cut the private agencies to save money. And then we see this kind of behaviour."

PQ candidate Marie-Claude Sarrazin pledged that if elected, "We are going to audit all ongoing IT projects to ensure that the needs analysis was properly conducted." The project will resume in spring after a winter break.