A well-known organization in the techno ecosystem, Québec digital, will cease all its activities on July 31. For an unexplained reason, Quebec has refused a grant of $500,000 for nine months, leading to “a financial situation that has become insurmountable,” explains the organization.
And it’s not a bluff, assures Martine Rioux, president of the board of directors of Québec régional, in an interview. “No, July 31st is the real date. Come see our bank account […] It’s been so long, we’ve exhausted our resources. »
It is impossible to know precisely what the government is accusing the organization that opened a campus in the Saint-Roch district of Quebec. In the fall of 2023, explains by email a spokesperson for the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity (MESS), “possible irregularities appeared” which led to “checks on the management of the subsidy granted to Digital Quebec for the 42 Quebec project.
The 42 Quebec program is the best known of Quebec digital, 80% subsidized by the government. Developed in 2018 in collaboration at the time with the Ministry of Education, it is a Quebec franchise of École 42 founded in 2013 in Paris, which offers flexible computer training without prerequisites.
The 42 Québec program has trained some 700 students in computer science over the past three years, and 220 students are currently being trained. The program, which is not recognized by the Ministry of Education, but claims to have a 100% placement rate for its graduates, has been the subject of a formal administrative investigation by the MESS since last May.
“The Ministry has reviewed all available reporting and communicated with Québec digital on several occasions in order to obtain additional information on the management of the amounts paid to them,” spokesperson Jonathan Gaudreault said by email.
“For reasons of confidentiality and in order not to harm the administrative investigation, we will not comment further,” we can read.
These explanations, the same ones that Quebec has provided to other media since last week, do not enlighten the president of Quebec digital. “For months, they have been asking for documents, supporting documents, to fill out this table, to provide this document,” reports Ms. Rioux. They said they saw irregularities. I asked what their nature was. “What do you see ? Can you direct me?” I never got an answer to these questions I asked. »
Is there really nothing in the management of 42 Quebec that could seem suspicious? No employees who could have been associated with wrongdoing?
“No, no, no,” assures the president. It is our reputation that is at stake. If I had doubts about the organization, the management, the employees in place, it is certain that I would not be here talking to you. The amounts that were supposed to go to 42 Quebec went to 42 Quebec. »
In addition to the $500,000 grant, Québec digital was expecting $1 million for the continuation of the 42 Québec project. Financial uncertainty forced the organization to slash its workforce by about 40%, from 25 to 14 employees. The inability to obtain other subsidies, the reluctance of partners and the costs of keeping 42 Quebec afloat have unbalanced the organization’s budget, which stands at around 5 million per year.
“While you are busy responding to all the demands for accountability, it has slowed down activities to seek out private partners,” adds the president.
