The problems with the computerized payroll system for state employees are far from over and the signing of the new collective agreement risks further failures, admits Minister Éric Caire.
• Also read: The series of Quebec officials witnessing the failure of the pay system
• Also read: Wage system flaws: Opposition question Éric Caire’s competence
Quebec officials are struggling with their pay due to computer system failures, our Bureau of Investigation revealed.
The system causes significant problems, such as unpaid hours and ignored pay raises.
MARCEL TREMBLAY/QMI AGENCY
The unions blame the Department of Cybersecurity and Digital directly for this fiasco, which looks like a Quebec phoenix.
Minister Éric Caire refuses to take the blame but admits the problems will persist for a number of years, particularly with the signing of the future collective agreement for state employees. The SAGIR computer system is questionable.
“If we change the collective agreement, I have to go straight into the system because it’s rigid and outdated,” he said, noting that “the system has never been the subject of an update.”
As of January 2022, the Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital (MCN) has been responsible for compensating around 80,000 government employees in Quebec, most notably as part of the SAGIR project.
“Every time we make changes, sign new collective agreements, the provisions have to be applied. But to apply them, we need to change the code. But to modify the code, we need skillful programmers. It is no longer taught in our schools. It’s a resource that is extremely rare,” he said.
replace system.
The minister promises to replace the SAGIR system. However, the schedule and budget are not in place.
“It’s a huge project. All other aspects of the management system of the famous SAGIR system, even this one, we have to start replacing them because (the technology) Oracle will no longer support them either,” he pleads.
He admits that managing computer systems is more complicated than he thought when he was in opposition.
Not his job
The opposition parties argue that the Minister for Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs cannot deal with the computer chaos as promised and is letting all projects under his responsibility go haywire. They call on the Prime Minister to intervene.
“Mr. Legault gave him the responsibility to settle this. He is Minister for Digital Affairs. He is in no position to deal with digital affairs. That means he is not doing his job,” explained the parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, and called for a commission on computer issues.
The interim leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, Marc Tanguay, attacked the minister, arguing that he was stalling the computer projects he was managing.
“Sheriff Cairo is more like Quebec IT’s Lucky Luke. It’s causing digital projects in Quebec to skid faster than its shadow,” he said.
According to him, the failures of the payroll system for state employees are still “a failure of Minister Cairo”.
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