Quebec watchdog recommends major reforms to lobbying rules after auto board scandal

MONTREAL — Quebec’s lobbying commissioner is calling for a major overhaul of the province’s lobbying transparency rules, warning the current system does not ensure adequate public oversight.

Speaking at a news conference in Quebec City on Tuesday, Jean-François Routhier released a report calling for an overhaul of Quebec’s lobbying rules, arguing the current framework is outdated and fails to properly detect or regulate influence efforts. He said he hopes Quebec’s National Assembly will move ahead with his proposed reform.

“In this context (…) I don’t believe my role is limited to waiting for the next scandal to highlight the shortcomings of a law that has become inadequate,” said Routhier, referring to a recent public inquiry into a scandal at the provincial auto insurance board.

The SAAQ, Quebec’s automobile insurance board, launched an online platform called SAAQclic in 2023 to improve access to services, but the rollout instead resulted in service disruptions, long lineups at centres, and significant cost overruns.

A public inquiry led by Judge Denis Gallant found the agency concealed rapidly rising costs linked to the project, which are now expected to reach at least $1.1 billion by 2027 — nearly double the initial estimate.

Routhier argued the case exposed a key gap in the current law: the public and even public officials could not clearly identify whether lobbying took place around the project. He noted that no entries in the lobbying registry specifically identified the SAAQclic platform as targets of influence efforts.

Routhier said the current “significant interest” threshold allows some actors to avoid registering as lobbyists because their lobbying does not represent a large enough share of their work.

”Too much influence communications still go unnoticed by the public,” said Routhier.

Following the public inquiry, the Gallant report, released in February 2026, made 26 recommendations, including a full overhaul of Quebec’s 2002 Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Act.

Building on those findings, Routhier’s proposal is structured around five main pillars, including faster public disclosure of lobbying activities, shifting greater responsibility to companies and organizations that benefit from lobbying, and strengthening enforcement tools for the commissioner’s office.

Routhier said it is disappointing that, despite long-standing concerns, no substantial reform of the law has yet been adopted.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2026.

Charlotte Glorieux, The Canadian Press